UNIVERSITY  OF 
ILLINOIS  LIBRARY 
AT  URBANA-CHAMPAIGN 

AGRICULTURE 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2018  with  funding  from 

University  of  Illinois  Urbana-Champaign  Alternates 


https://archive.org/details/commercialhandli7531more 


HANDLING,  GRADING,  AND  MARKETING  POTATOES.  3 

/.  i 

No.  3  grade,  the  third  chain  or  belt  is  used  and  potatoes  which 
do  not  drop  through  its  11-inch  mesh  are  carried  to  a  chute 
on  the  opposite  side.  The  very  small  potatoes  and  dirt  have  then 
dropped  through  all  the  belts  to  the  ground  or  out  through  another 
chute  into  crates.  The  pickers  are  supposed  to  leave  the  cull  potatoes 
on  the  ground,  while  a  man  at  the  end  of  the  machine  is  expected 
to  pick  out  the  defective  stock  overlooked  by  the  pickers  and  still 
remaining  when  the  crates  are  emptied  on  the  apron  of  the  sizer. 

Figure  3  shows  three  barrels  of  machine-sized  stock  ready  to  be 
headed;  from  right  to  left  these  are  No.  1,  No.  2,  and  No.  3  grades. 
The  tubers  in  each  barrel  are  very  even  in  size.  The  No.  2 
grade  varies  only  A  of  an  inch,  all  being  between  1|  and  inches 
in  size,  while  the  No.  3  stock  varies  only  one-fourth  of  an  inch, 


Fig.  2.— Field  sorting  of  southern  potatoes  over  a  machine  into  three  sizes. 

running  from  1J  to  1J  inches  in  size.  The  clean,  attractive 
barrels  used  in  this  section  are  worthy  of  notice.  This  locality  is 
one  of  the  few  in  the  country  using  double-headed  barrels  for  pota¬ 
toes.  A  burlap  or  cloth  top  is  commonly  used  in  other  Atlantic 
coast  sections  in  place  of  the  wooden  head.  (See  fig.  4.)  The  slat 
picking  crate  used  in  the  field  (see  fig.  2)  and  for  hauling  to  the 
grader  is  a  folding  crate  and  requires  comparatively  little  storage 
space  when  stored  between  seasons.  Its  slats  all  have  rounded  cor¬ 
ners,  so  that  products  can  be  handled  in  this  package  with  a  minimum 
of  damage  from  cuts  and  bruises. 

Buyers  and  wholesalers  have  freely  praised  the  results  of  shipping 
machine-sized,  hand-graded  potatoes  of  uniform  sizes,  not  only 
because  such  stock  runs  the  same  throughout  the  barrel,  but  because 


4 


FARMERS*  BULLETIN  753. 


after  the  potatoes  have  been  handled  in  the  crates  and  over  the 
machines  they  are  usually  dry  when  they  reach  the  container  and 
the  field  dirt  has  been  shaken  or  rubbed  off,  so  that  very  little  goes 
into  the  barrel.  Growers  state  that  although  more  teams  are  needed 
on  account  of  hauling  from  the  field  to  the  machine,  a  greater  acreage 
can  be  dug,  sized,  and  loaded  per  day  than  when  graded  in  the  field 
because  pickers  can  work  faster  and  the  potatoes  are  both  sized 
and  hand-graded  over  the  machine  more  rapidly.  In  one  packing 
house  900  barrels  a  day  have  been  run  over  a  power  sizer,  and  it  is 
stated  that  its  daily  capacity  is  from  1,000  to  1,200  barrels. 

In  handling  this  stock  care  must  be  exercised  in  digging  in  order 
that  no  potatoes  shall  be  cut  by  the  forks.  Defective  tubers  should 
be  left  temporarily  on  the  ground  and  not  picked  into  crates,  but 


Fig.  3.— Three  barrels  of  new  potatoes  sized  over  a  machine,  ready  to  head  up.  Note  uniformity  in  size. 


when  affected  with  any  troublesome  tuber  disease  they  should  later 
be  picked  up  and  removed  from  the  field.  The  crates  should  never 
be  filled  above  level  full,  for  the  potatoes  might  be  mashed  or  cut 
when  the  over-full  crates  are  stacked  and  hauled.  Crates  should  be 
carefully  and  deliberately  emptied  on  the  machine,  the  belts  should 
be  fed  evenly  and  never  allowed  to  be  overloaded.  Best  results 
cannot  be  obtained  when  the  machines  are  made  to  run  too  fast. 
Barrels  should  be  shaken  down  at  least  twice  while  they  are  being 
filled,  so  that  they  will  still  be  full  and  tightly  packed  on  reaching 
the  market. 

Notwithstanding  the  very  large  holdings  of  old  potatoes  all  over 
the  North  in  the  spring  of  1915  and  an  increased  production  of  new 
potatoes  from  Florida,  these  new  potatoes  brought  uniformly  high 
prices.  This  is  said  to  have  been  due  partly  to  the  excellent  quality 


HANDLING,  GRADING,  AND  MARKETING  POTATOES. 


5 


of  the  new  stock,  partly  to  the  grading  and  packing,  and  partly  to 
the  fact  that  the  distribution  in  the  markets  was  good.  Carloads 
were  shipped  to  Panama  and  Alaska. 

South  Carolina. — In  the  South  Carolina  section  where  the  Irish 
Cobbler  is  the  chief  variety  grown,  most  of  the  potatoes  are  dug 
with  a  straight  spading  fork.  In  the  Hastings  section  of  Florida  the 
negro  help  is  paid  by  the  day  for  its  labor,  but  in  the  South  Carolina 
section  it  is  paid  10  cents  a  barrel  for  digging,  picking,  and  packing 
the  potatoes.  No  doubt  the  potatoes  are  not  so  carefully  handled  nor 
graded,  because  the  diggers  and  pickers  endeavor  to  complete  as 
many  barrels  as  possible  each  day. 

A  number  of  sizing  machines  have  been  shipped  into  this  terri¬ 
tory,  but  on  account  of  the  late  rainy  season  in  1915  they  were  not 


Fig.  4.— Early  potatoes  in  veneer  barrel  ready  for  the  burlap  cover. 

Note  the  light,  frail  construction  of  the  barrel. 

given  a  fair  trial.  Two  grades,  No.  1  and  No.  2,  are  marketed, 
but  shippers  state  that  through  the  lack  of  fixed  standards  for  these 
grades  and  the  growers’  lack  of  care  in  grading,  entirely  too  many 
small  and  defective  potatoes  are  placed  in  the  barrels. 

One  association  manager  states  that  he  has  been  able  to  sell  all 
of  the  potatoes  loaded  by  his  growers  when  he  could  guarantee  their 
quality,  but  that  many  times  he  is  forced  to  make  consignments 
of  carloads  because  the  stock  is  not  up  to  grade,  or  is  ungraded. 

Virginia. — The  Irish  Cobbler  is  the  principal  variety  shipped  from 
the  heavy  producing  section  of  the  Eastern  Shore  of  Virginia,  about  one- 
half  of  the  seed  being  secured  in  Maine,  the  other  half  being  specially 


FARMERS  *  BULLETIN  753. 


grown  locally.  Digging  begins  in  this  section  about  June  1.  Nearly 
all  growers  plow  out  their  potatoes,  only  a  few  using  machine  diggers. 
The  potatoes  are  then  scratched  from  the  dirt  by  hand  and  picked 
into  baskets,  from  which  they  are  emptied  into  barrels  (see  fig.  5). 
The  illustration  shows  two  of  these  baskets,  the  smaller  costing  the 
grower  about  25  cents  and  the  larger  50  cents.  It  has  been  found 
very  important  in  hot  weather  that  potatoes  shall  not  remain  in  the 
field  in  the  hot  sun,  so  in  this  section  the  best  method  seems  to  be  to 
dig  the  potatoes  late  in  the  afternoon  or  evening  and  have  the  pickers 
in  the  field  at  daylight  in  order  to  get  the  cool  potatoes  into  the 
barrels  and  haul  them  to  the  cars  before  the  day  becomes  hot. 


Fig.  5. — Large  and  small  sized  picking  baskets,  and  a  slat  picking  crate  in  which  potatoes  are  picked  and 

hauled  to  cars. 

During  the  1915  season  several  hundred  carloads  were  shipped  in 
bulk,  an  unusual  method  in  this  section,  but  on  account  of  the  ex¬ 
tremely  low  prices  growers  resorted  to  this  procedure  to  save  the  bar¬ 
rels  and  covers,  costing  26f  cents.  One  advantage  to  the  buyer  of  po¬ 
tatoes  loaded  in  bulk  is  that  the  defective  stock  shows  up  very  plainly. 
These  potatoes  marketed  in  bulk  were  picked  into  bushel  slat  crates 
(see  fig.  5),  costing  the  grower  18  cents  each.  These  crates  were 
loaded  on  wagons  and  hauled  direct  from  the  field  to  the  cars  and 
then  emptied  (see  fig.  6).  It  can  readily  be  seen  that  this  type  of 
package  is  a  very  convenient  and  suitable  receptacle  for  this  purpose. 
Its  rounded  slats  prevent  cuts  and  bruises;  it  is  handy,  durable,  and 
can  be  folded  up  and  stored  in  a  small  space  during  the  winter. 


HANDLING,  GRADING,  AND  MARKETING  POTATOES. 


7 


Pickers  here  are  usually  paid  10  cents  per  barrel  or  3  cents  per 
hamper  when  following  the  plow,  but  in  1915  the  price  was  in  some 
cases  reduced  to  8  cents  per  barrel  and  pickers  following  the  digger 
were  paid  2  cents  per  crate  of  60  pounds.  This  reduced  rate  prob¬ 
ably  will  not  apply  in  normal  seasons. 

It  is  said  that  about  125  sizing  machines,  similar  to  those  used  in 
Florida  (see  fig.  2),  were  shipped  into  this  section  in  1915,  but  the 
extremely  low  prices  prevailing  for  potatoes  interfered  somewhat 
with  their  general  use. 

The  management  of  the  growers’  cooperative  marketing  organiza¬ 
tion  which  shipped  over  10,000  carloads  of  potatoes  from  this  section 
in  1915,  strongly  believes  that  proper  grading  and  handling  of  the 
crop  is  of  primary  importance.  Although  this  organization  has 


Fig.  6.— Method  of  loading  and  hauling  potatoes  in  crates  to  cars  for  shipment  in  bulk. 


become  widely  known  for  its  dependable  output,  the  management  is 
not  yet  satisfied  with  results  and  is  endeavoring  and  planning  to 
standardize  its  shipments  still  further.  An  inspector  is  employed  at 
each  of  about  44  loading  stations  maintained  by  the  organization 
and  a  chief  inspector  looks  after  the  work  of  all.  These  inspectors 
are  held  strictly  responsible  for  the  grade  of  shipments  leaving  their 
stations  and  each  one  realizes  that  his  standing  with  the  organization 
depends  largely  upon  how  many  or  how  few  cars  inspected  by  him 
and  shipped  from  his  station  are  eventually  rejected  or  are  the  cause 
of  complaints  on  arrival  in  the  markets. 

The  organization  has  established  an  enviable  reputation  on  its  first 
grade  of  potatoes.  Each  barrel  of  its  best  grade  is  shipped  under 
a  branded  cover  and  when  potatoes  which  do  not  come  up  to  the 


8 


FARMERS*  BULLETIN  753. 


requirements  of  the  grade  are  received  under  such  covers  at  the  ship¬ 
ping  stations  the  cover  must  be  removed  and  a  plain  one  substituted 
or  the  contents  must  be  regraded,  as  nothing  but  first-grade  stock  is 
allowed  to  go  out  under  this  brand.  This  grade  calls  for  stock  about 
2  inches  in  diameter.  The  two  sizing  belts  on  the  grading  machines 
shipped  into  this  territory  are  of  1-ff  and  Ire  inch  mesh.  The  pota¬ 
toes  must  be  bright,  free  from  second  growth,  disease,  and  other 
defects.  Scabby,  worm-eaten,  or  sunburned  potatoes  are  barred. 
Stock  which  does  not  meet  the  requirements  of  the  first  grade  is 
shipped  in  barrels  bearing  unbranded  cloth  or  burlap  covers.  (See 
fig.  7.)  All  barrels  must  be  well  shaken  down  and  well  filled  so  that 
they  will  be  full  and  present  an  attractive  appearance  on  arrival  on 
the  market. 

When  a  car  is  loaded  by  more  than  one  grower,  the  association  s 
representative  marks  the  grower’s  initials  on  each  barrel  placed  in  the 


Fig.  7.— A  well-filled  barrel  of  fancy,  clean,  early  Virginiapotatoes  ready  for  branded 
burlap  cover.  Note  strong  construction  of  barrel. 

car,  in  order  that  the  stock  may  be  identified  and  traced  if  there  is  any 
question  regarding  the  quality,  either  at  shipping  point  or  on  the  mar¬ 
ket.  Frequently  with  potatoes  marked  in  this  manner  an  adjustment 
may  be  secured  on  a  rejected  car  by  making  an  allowance  only  on  the 
potatoes  placed  in  the  car  by  one  grower,  while  if  the  number  of 
barrels  in  the  lot  is  unknown,  the  allowance  would  probably  have  to 
be  given  on  every  barrel  in  the  car,  although  perhaps  only  15  or  20 
barrels  were  loaded  by  the  offending  grower.  The  chief  inspector 
seeks  to  have  all  growers  who  employ  several  pickers  give  each  a 
number  which  must  be  marked  on  the  outside  of  every  barrel  filled 
by  him.  This  practice  enables  the  inspector  at  the  car  door  to  do 
better  work,  because  when  he  finds  that  one  picker  continues  to  do 


HANDLING,  GRADING,  AND  MARKETING  POTATOES. 


9 


poor  grading,  the  barrels  bearing  bis  number  may  be  marked  down 
to  a  lower  grade,  be  sent  back  for  regrading,  or  the  picker  may  be 
be  replaced. 

The  method  of  inspecting  barreled  potatoes  is  shown  in  figure  8. 
For  this  purpose  one-half  of  a  barrel  is  reinforced  with  extra  hoops 
and  a  sufficient  number  of  barrels  from  each  grower’s  load  is  par¬ 
tially  emptied  into  this  half  barrel  for  examination  to  enable  the 
inspector  accurately  to  judge  bis  receipts.  It  can  readily  be  seen 
that  deception  in  packing  is  kept  at  a  minimum  by  this  method. 

Between  $30,000  and  $40,000  a  year  is  appropriated  by  the  direc¬ 
tors  of  this  organization  for  its  inspection  service.  In  1914  its  grow¬ 
ers  were  paid  nearly  $6,000,000  for  the  products  marketed  through 
this  organization;  in  1915,  notwithstanding  the  very  disastrous  sea- 


Fig.  8.— Barrel  of  potatoes  in  car  doorway  partially  emptied  into  tub  allowing  inspector  to  make  careful 

examination. 


son  caused  by  “ glutted”  or  oversupplied  markets,  low  prices,  and  an 
unusually  heavy  production  of  early  potatoes  at  the  time  they  were 
shipping,  the  percentage  of  cars  consigned  was  less  than  usual,  prac¬ 
tically  all  of  their  shipments  being  sold  outright.  These  facts  indi¬ 
cate  that  their  endeavors  to  maintain  uniformly  high  grades  must  be 
in  the  right  direction. 

There  are  a  number  of  other  growers’  organizations  that  market 
potatoes  from  Virginia,  Maryland,  Delaware,  and  New  Jersey,  most 
of  them  endeavoring  to  bring  about  better  and  more  uniform  grad¬ 
ing.  In  at  least  one  of  these  sections  many  grading  machines  have 
been  bought.  In  most  of  the  potato  sections  of  these  States  a  No. 
1  and  a  No.  2  grade  are  recognized,  but  entirely  too  large  a  part  of 
the  crop  moves  out  under  the  No.  1  grade.  The  result  is  that  freight 
48267°— Bull.  753—16 - 2 


10 


FARMERS 9  BULLETIN  153. 


is  paid  on  much  defective  or  worthless  stock  mixed  with  the  good 
potatoes.  This  stock,  which  it  is  frequently  necessary  to  sort  out 
after  reaching  the  market  should  be  taken  out  on  the  farm. 

HANDLING  NORTHERN  LATE  POTATOES. 

The  12  heaviest  late  potato  producing  States  of  the  North  and 
West  are  Maine,  New  York,  Michigan,  Wisconsin,  Minnesota,  Penn¬ 
sylvania,  Ohio,  Illinois,  Iowa,  Nebraska,  Colorado,  and  Idaho. 

DIGGING. 

Digging  usually  is  begun  some  time  between  the  middle  of  August 
and  the  middle  of  September,  and  the  bulk  of  the  crop  is  dug  and 
stored  by  about  October  15  to  escape  the  possibility  of  freezing 
weather. 

Northern  potatoes  are  dug  by  hand  with  fork,  with  the  plow,  and 
by  means  of  the  large  two  or  four  horse  digging  machines  (see  ng.  9) 


Fig.  9. — Digging  scene  on  a  large  potato  farm  near  Moorhead,  Minn. 

For  large  areas  it  is  economical  to  use  an  elevator  digger,  of  which 
there  are  several  types.  Some  weigh  as  much  as  1,000  pounds  and 
are  drawn  by  two,  four,  or  six  horses,  according  to  the  condition  of 
the  land.  When  conditions  are  favorable,  the  use  of  a  digger  is 
recommended  as  the  work  may  be  done  more  quickly  and  more 
economically.  An  elevator  digger  will  turn  out  from  3  to  5  acres 
per  day,  depending  upon  the  nature  and  condition  of  the  ground. 
If  a  grower  has  only  a  small  acreage  planted  to  potatoes  and  is  unable 
to  purchase  a  digger  himself,  one  may  be  bought  cooperatively  with 
his  neighbors,  the  cost  to  each  thereby  being  reduced,  and  most  of 
the  advantages  of  a  privately  owned  machine  secured. 


HANDLING,  GRADING,  AND  MARKETING  POTATOES. 


11 


In  the  Red  River  Valley  potato  district  of  Minnesota  mechanical 
diggers  are  used  almost  exclusively,  while  in  Wisconsin  forks  as  well 
as  mechanical  diggers  are  used.  In  the  Upper  Peninsula  of  Michi¬ 
gan  a  long-handled  fork  having  five  prongs,  each  about  14  inches  long 
is  used  for  nearly  all  digging.  In  some  instances  ordinary  one-horse 
plows  are  used. 

The  heavy  losses  due  to  rough  handling,  cuts,  bruises,  and  the  con¬ 
sequent  decay  are  not  generally  realized  on  the  farm.  A  visit  to  the 
retail  stores  where  many  such  unsalable  potatoes  are  sorted  out  and 
lost  would  show  growers  one  reason  why  the  retailer  must  secure  a 
seemingly  large  price  over  his  first  cost.  Much  of  this  waste  can  be 
directly  attributed  to  improper  methods  employed  in  the  use  of 
machine  diggers  and  to  rough  handling,  and  can  be  prevented  to  a 
great  extent  by  the  use  of  more  care  and  less  haste. 

Some  growers  believe  that  by  using  a  fork  greater  care  can  be 
exercised  than  with  a  plow  or  machine,  the  loss  being  reduced  to  a 
minimum,  but  this  method  of  digging  is  so  slow  that  it  is  not  economi¬ 
cal  on  large  areas.  Deep  plowing  with  the  machine  and  plow  will 
help  to  reduce  the  number  of  cut  potatoes. 

PICKING. 

In  these  regions  potatoes  are  picked  in  the  field  almost  exclusively 
by  hand.  Several  types  of  combination  digging  and  picking  ma¬ 
chines  are  on  the  market  and  a  few  are  in  use  in  the  late-potato 
States.  For  successful  use  the  grower  must  have  ideal  soil  condi¬ 
tions  and  the  buyers  of  these  machines  are  expected  by  manufac¬ 
turers  to  know  if  they  have  conditions  which  will  warrant  purchasing 
such  machines.  These  machines  not  only  dig  the  potatoes  but 
deposit  them  either  in  crates  or  bushel  piles  windrowed  across  the 
field.  Where  soil  conditions  are  suitable  they  should  be  labor  savers. 

Transient  and  local  help,  which  sometimes  includes  boys  and  girls, 
is  used  where  the  crop  is  picked  by  hand.  A  day’s  picking  ranges 
from  one  hundred  to  two  hundred  bushels,  depending  upon  the 
ability  of  the  worker.  It  requires  on  an  average  five  persons  to  pick 
up  after  one  digging  machine.  If  the  potatoes  are  to  be  graded  in 
the  field  as  gathered,  the  pickers  should  be  thoroughly  instructed 
before  the  digging  begins,  as  to  the  requirements  of  the  grades.  The 
inclusion  of  a  few  diseased,  cut,  or  defective  potatoes  is  sufficient  to 
discount  an  entire  shipment,  for  its  selling  value  is  largely  determined 
by  the  poorest  in  the  lot  rather  than  the  best. 

Potatoes  are  picked  into  the  bushel  wire  basket  (see  fig.  10) ;  the 
folding  slat  crate  (see  fig.  5) ;  and  a  square  bushel  box.  The  wire 
basket  is  the  most  extensively  used  and  in  some  places  the  potatoes 
are  emptied  from  the  baskets  into  field  boxes  which  later  are  emptied 
into  wagons  for  hauling  to  the  car  or  warehouse.  They  are  then 


12 


FARMERS 9  BULLETIN  753. 


handled  one  or  more  times  with  shovels  or  scoops.  (See  fig.  10.)  In 
other  places  the  filled  wire  baskets  are  emptied  into  sacks  in  the  field 
and  these  are  hauled  half  full  to  storage  cellars,  houses  or  the  cars  and 
there  emptied.  Hauling  loose  in  a  wagon  from  the  field  is  a  bad 
practice,  whether  to  the  car  or  storage  house  and  is  not  recommended, 
as  potatoes  are  seriously  damaged  by  repeated  handling,  and  such 
methods  do  not  appear  economical.  (See  fig.  11.) 

From  observations  and  investigations  made  by  representatives  of 
the  Department  of  Agriculture  a  crate  with  rounded  slats  holding 
about  a  bushel  is  recommended  instead  of  a  picking  basket  or  box. 


Fig.  10.— Two  types  of  wire  picking  baskets,  and  a  fork  or  scoop  for  forking  potatoes. 

Potatoes  picked  in  this  crate  can  be  loaded  on  a  field  wagon  and 
hauled  to  the  storage  house  or  car  without  any  dumping  or  rehandling 
(see  fig.  6). 

SIZING. 

Sorting  or  sizing  machines  of  various  types  are  used  in  many  dis¬ 
tricts,  some  operated  by  hand  and  others  by  gasoline  or  electric 
motor.  The  object  of  these  machines  is  to  sort  the  potatoes  for  size, 
and  eliminate  the  dirt,  but  it  is  believed  that  too  many  growers  and 
shippers  leave  the  grading  for  quality,  as  well  as  the  sorting  for  size 
to  the  machine.  If  properly  managed,  it  will  size  the  stock  satisfac¬ 
torily  but  every  grower  should  do  his  part  by  carefully  removing  by 
hand  all  defective  potatoes. 

Potato  sorting  for  size  as  accomplished  over  machines  is  more 
accurate,  satisfactory,  and  rapid,  and  by  many  is  considered  more 
economical  than  the  old  method  of  hand-and-eye  sorting.  The  uni¬ 
formity  of  size  obtained  enables  the  seller  definitely  to  recommend 
and  guarantee  the  size  of  his  potatoes.  Any  sizing  machine  used 


HANDLING,  GRADING,  AND  MARKETING  POTATOES.  13 

should  be  so  built  as  to  allow  a  large  apron  and  a  long  belt  or  other 
sizing  device  (see  fig.  2) .  The  large  apron  or  table  on  the  machine  is 
necessary  in  order  that  the  operator  or  sorter  may  have  ample  oppor¬ 
tunity  to  remove  all  defective  stock  before  the  potatoes  go  on  the 
belt  or  other  sizing  device.  A  sufficiently  long  machine  or  belt  is 
essential  in  order  that  the  tubers  will  have  sufficient  distance  to 
travel  so  that  they  will  be  properly  sized  before  leaving  the  machine. 

To  obtain  the  most  economical  results  with  mechanical  sizers  of 
any  description  a  continuous  supply  of  potatoes  should  be  on  hand  so 
that  the  machine  and  men  tending  it  will  be  kept  constantly  employed. 
The  drop  from  the  machine  into  the  shipping  packages  or  other 
containers  should  not  be  a  long  one  and  the  potatoes  should  be 
safeguarded  against  bruises  or  cuts  not  only  in  dropping  from  the 


Fig.  11— Four-horse  diggers,  wire  picking  baskets,  and  field  boxes;  bulk  loading  into  wagon. 

machine  but  during  all  the  time  they  are  in  or  on  it.  Every  precaution 
should  be  taken  to  avoid  their  coming  in  contact  with  sharp  projec¬ 
tions  of  any  kind. 

The  hand  sorters  are  of  various  types.  The  type  which  is  in  gen¬ 
eral  use  in  the  Moorhead  district  of  Minnesota,  sizes  the  potatoes  over 
rods  spaced  an  inch  and  five-eighths  and  an  inch  and  one-quarter 
apart.  It  is  portable,  light,  and  may  be  used  either  in  the  field  or 
the  warehouse.  The  type  of  machine  already  described  (see  fig.  2), 
used  -in  Florida  and  other  Atlantic  coast  sections,  is  also  used  in 
Maine,  New  York,  and  the  Northern  Central  States.  Another  (see 
fig.  12)  designed  especially  for  field  sorting  but  also  adapted  for  ware¬ 
house  and  cellar  sorting  is  about  5  feet  high,  7  feet  long,  and  33  inches 
wide  over  all.  The  upper  screen  is  about  3£  inches  above  the  lower 


14 


FARMERS ,  BULLETIN  753. 


or  dirt  screen.  Sizing  is  accomplished  by  swinging  the  hoppers  for¬ 
ward  and  backward  by  the  hand  bar  at  the  top  of  the  rear  end  of  the 
hopper.  The  larger  potatoes  come  off  at  the  right  over  the  top  screen 
and  the  smaller  potatoes  come  off  at  the  left,  over  the  lower  screen. 

In  another  type  of  sorter  adaptable  for  warehouses,  cellars,  loading 
stations  or  cars,  the  potatoes  are  placed  in  the  lower  hopper  and  are 
sized  as  they  pass  upward  on  an  endless  flexible  screen.  The  small 
potatoes,  dropping  through,  pass  out  at  the  side,  free  from  dirt, 


Fig.  12. — One  style  of  sizing  machine  for  field  or  warehouse  use. 

over  a  stationary  slanting  dirt  screen.  This  machine  is  somewhat 
similar  to  the  one  shown  in  figure  2. 

These  descriptions  are  furnished  only  to  give  a  general  idea  of 
machine  sizers  since  there  are  a  number  of  other  types  of  potato  sorters 
on  the  market. 

A  larger  percentage  of  the  commercial  crop  of  potatoes  should 
be  sorted  for  size  by  machinery,  in  the  field  or  at  the  warehouse, 
to  eliminate  the  undersized  stock.  If  dug  during  wet  weather, 


HANDLING,  GRADING,  AND  MARKETING  POTATOES.  15 

machine  sizing  will  separate  much  of  the  dirt  from  the  potatoes. 
Complaint  has  been  heard  from  buyers  regarding  the  dirt  frequently 
found  in  shipments.  They  claim  they  do  not  receive  sufficient 
allowance  for  dirt  when  sorters  are  not  used  and  that  a  general  use 
of  sorters  would  tend  to  alleviate  this  trouble. 

GRADING. 

It  seems  quite  unnecessary  to  say  that  no  machine  has  been  made 
which  will  grade  potatoes  as  to  quality.  The  mechanical  sizer  simply 
sorts  as  to  size,  and  the  stock  must  be  further  graded  by  hand  to 
eliminate  potatoes  affected  by  sun  burn,  dry-rot,  scab,  frost,  cuts,  or 
other  defects.  Investigations  in  nearly  any  wholesale  market,  of  the 
manner  in  wThich  potatoes  are  prepared  for  market  by  the  shipper, 
will  usually  convince  the  most  skeptical  that  there  is  great  need  of 
improvement.  On  every  side  may  be  seen  quantities  which  must  be 
sorted  before  they  can  be  sold  or  which  must  be  sold  ungraded  at 
reduced  prices.  Large  and  small,  smooth  and  scabby  or  otherwise 
defective  potatoes  frequently  are  all  shipped  together. 

The  amount  of  money  lost  to  growers,  dealers,  and  consumers  each 
year  through  the  shipment  of  ungraded  or  poorly  graded  potatoes 
can  not  be  estimated,  but  that  it  is  very  large  and  mostly  unnecessary 
must  be  admitted.  In  many  markets  scores  of  men  may  be  seen  in 
cars  sorting  potatoes.  Large  quantities  that  are  frosted,  decayed, 
badly  cut,  bruised,  diseased  or  otherwise  defective  are  thrown  away. 
Usually  these  are  the  grower’s  losses  and  besides  losing  the  invoice 
value  of  the  defective  stock  culled  out  of  these  cars,  he  is  also  paying 
about  twice  as  much  for  the  labor  as  though  he  had  graded  the  pota¬ 
toes  on  the  farm.  The  railroad  receives  the  only  full  returns  on  such 
cars,  for  their  charges  are  based  on  the  quantity  of  potatoes  hauled 
and  not  on  the  quality. 

Quantities  of  cull  potatoes  sorted  out  of  supplies  sold  to  consumers 
may  also  be  found  in  most  retail  stores  that  handle  vegetables.  Not¬ 
withstanding  these  losses  by  wholesalers  and  retailers,  much  unde¬ 
sirable  stock  is  passed  on  to  the  housewife.  This  is  a  common  com¬ 
plaint  among  consumers  and  they  frequently  ask  why  they  do  not 
receive  better  potatoes,  stating  that  they  do  not  buy  and  use  as 
many  potatoes  as  they  would  if  good  ones  were  always  received. 

It  is  found  in  all  sections  that  the  potatoes  loaded  into  cars  and 
shipped  from  the  field  at  digging  time,  usually  receive  less  care  in 
sorting  for  size  and  grade  than  those  shipped  later  in  the  season  from 
warehouses  or  cellars.  This  is  partly  due  to  the  rush  to  get  the  crop 
harvested  and  partly  to  carelessness.  During  some  seasons  hundreds 
of  carloads  are  forwarded  which,  when  loaded,  are  known  to  have 
been  more  or  less  frosted  or  frozen  in  the  ground,  or  sometimes  after 
digging  or  loading.  When  a  grower  or  shipper  knowingly  loads  such 


16 


FARMERS 9  BULLETIN  *753. 


stock  he  invites  disaster,  rejections  and  losses.  During  the  fall  of 
1915,  hundreds  of  cars  containing  blighted,  frost  damaged,  or  other¬ 
wise  diseased  and  decaying  potatoes  were  shipped.  A  broker  in  one 
city  in  the  Middle  West  stated  that  in  the  previous  three  weeks  150 
cars  of  potatoes  had  been  rejected  on  that  market  on  account  of  poor 
condition.  As  this  report  concerned  only  one  medium-sized  market, 
for  just  three  weeks,  the  total  number  rejected  for  this  reason  on  all 
markets  must  have  caused  serious  losses.  These  potatoes,  no  doubt, 
were  shipped  direct  from  the  field. 

Many  of  the  cars  of  potatoes  received  on  the  markets,  both  bulk 
and  sacked  stock,  contain  only  sufficient  frosted  or  otherwise  defec¬ 
tive  tubers  to  show  a  few  “rots,”  but  the  sacks  or  potatoes  near  them 
become  wet  and  it  is  then  necessary  to  sort  the  entire  car  at  heavy 


Fig.  13.— Three  barrels  of  decayed  potatoes  sorted  from  one  end  of  a  car  of  bulk  stock.  These  potatoes 
caused  much  more  stock  to  be  wet  and  unattractive. 

expense.  Figure  13  shows  three  barrels  of  “rots”  taken  from  one 
end  of  a  car  of  Maine  hulk  potatoes.1  While  the  actual  quantity 
of  potatoes  lost  was  only  about  20  bushels  altogether,  the  freight  on 
these  and  the  labor  charges  for  sorting  the  entire  car  at  destination 
made  a  large  bill  for  the  grower  to  pay. 

If  all  growers  could  have  enough  storage  space  so  that  their  crop, 
when  partly  frosted  or  otherwise  defective,  could  be  held  after 
digging  until  the  damaged  potatoes  could  all  be  detected  and  sorted 
out,  instead  of  dumping  them  on  the  market  immediately  after 
digging,  all  concerned  in  marketing  them  wmuld  realize  more  money, 

i  Further  data  concerning  the  loss  encountered  in  shipping  such  potatoes  is  shown  in:  More,  C.  T.,  and 
Branch,  G.  V. — Marketing  Maine  Potatoes,  C.  S.  Dept,  of  Agriculture,  Office  of  the  Secretary,  Circular 
No.  48,  1915. 


HANDLING,  GRADING,  AND  MARKETING  POTATOES. 


17 


as  a  rule.  One  dealer  stated  recently  that  in  his  opinion  sentiment 
has  as  much  to  do  with  the  potato  market  at  times  as  have  supply 
and  demand.  It  is  certain  that  when  markets  have  been  flooded 
for  weeks  with  frosted  stock  or  stock  which  shows  more  or  less  decay, 
every  one  concerned  in  the  marketing  of  this  crop  becomes  dis¬ 
gusted  and  the  result  is  a  “sick,”  “draggy”  market  on  which  every 
buyer  expects  to  receive  stock  at  a  discount  and  waits  until  he  does 
get  it  at  a  reduced  price.  Buyers  are  then  afraid  to  pay  the  better 
price  for  good  potatoes  on  account  of  the  low  price  prevailing  on  “off” 
stock. 

The  larger  part  of  the  commercial  potato  crop  is  stored  by  growers 
or  dealers  and  since  this  must  be  rehandled  and  most  of  it  sorted  to 
make  certain  no  decayed  stock 
is  shipped,  little  extra  effort 
would  be  necessary  to  grade 
the  potatoes  according  to  fixed 
standards.  The  results  would 
more  than  justify  the  slight  ex- 
tra  expense.  The  sorting  table 
or  “rack”  as  it  is  called  (see  fig. 

14),  is  used  extensively  in  Maine 
and  some  other  districts  to  sort 
and  grade  potatoes  when  they 
are  shipped  from  storage. 

They  are  emptied  on  the  high 
end  of  the  rack  and  as  sorted 
by  hand  run  out  at  the  lower, 
narrow  end  into  barrels  or 
bags. 

Wholesale  dealers  claim  that 
potatoes  always  should  be  FlG-  14-~Back  or  sorting  table  for  grading  potatoes 

bought  from  producers  on  their 

merits  but  that  at  present  in  many  places  practically  all  grades  are 
bought  at  the  same  price.  This  neither  penalizes  the  careless  grower 
nor  rewards  the  progressive;  on  the  contrary  it  rewards  slack  meth¬ 
ods  and  penalizes  careful  grading.  Some  dealers  freely  admit  that 
in  their  opinion  the  dealers  and  all  other  buyers  at  points  of  produc¬ 
tion  are  largely  responsible  for  present  conditions  because  they  have 
not  given  growers  sufficient  encouragement  to  grade  carefully  by 
always  discriminating  in  price  in  favor  of  fancy  stock.  Competition 
in  buying  as  well  as  in  selling  is  very  keen.  Each  buyer  or  dealer 
desires  to  do  as  large  a  volume  of  business  as  possible,  and  just  as 
iong  as  the  potatoes  he  purchases  can  all  be  resold,  everything  offered 
him  by  growers  will  be  bought  almost  regardless  of  grade.  If  one 
48267°— Bull.  753—16 - 3 


18 


FARMERS 9  BULLETIN  753. 


buyer  at  loading  point  refuses  a  load  or  a  car  on  account  of  quality, 
usually  there  is  another  buyer  ready  to  take  it  at  the  same  price. 
Inspection  by  buyers  at  loading  point  is  not  as  close  and  careful  as 
it  should  be  and  too  much  is  taken  for  granted.  More  care  at  this 
point  would  prevent,  many  later  rejections. 

A  large  part  of  the  grading  and  nearly  all  of  the  sizing  in  northern 
sections  now  is  done  by  the  local  dealers  or  warehousemen  and  by 
the  distributors’  representatives  at  their  warehouses  or  loading 
stations.  Of  course,  the  grower  is  relieved  of  this  extra  labor, 
but  he  must  pay  for  the  buyer’s  expense  in  accomplishing  this  work 
by  taking  a  lower  price  for  his  product  and  sometimes  losing  the 
feeding  value  of  the  culls  besides. 

It  should  be  remembered  also  that  when  growers  leave  the  grading 
to  the  warehouseman  they  put  themselves  just  that  much  farther  away 
from  direct  dealing  with  the  independent  cash  buyer  or  from  direct 
sales  to  dealers  in  the  cities.  However,  if  the  grower  lacks  the  will¬ 
ingness  to  grade  his  potatoes  effectively  it  is  as  well  that  the  ware¬ 
houseman  or  local  dealer  should  do  it. 

NEED  OF  STANDARDIZATION. 

The  impression  prevails  that  the  greatest  problem  facing  the  fruit 
and  vegetable-growing  industry  is  that  of  marketing,  and  the  standard¬ 
ization  of  these  products  is  acknowledged  to  be  one  of  the  most  impor¬ 
tant  phases  of  that  problem.  Only  a  start  has  been  made  in  this  coun¬ 
try  looking  toward  the  standardization  of  agricultural  products. 
Standards  for  fruits  and  vegetables  are  difficult  to  establish  because 
of  their  perishable  nature,  the  wide  difference  in  varieties,  and  the 
varying  conditions  under  which  they  are  grown.  Standardization 
is  generally  taken  to  mean  the  establishment  of  suitable  standards 
of  quality  which  will  include  such  regulations  concerning  the  digging, 
handling,  sorting,  sizing,  and  packing,  as  will  insure  a  uniform, 
standard  product  of  high  quality.  It  should  be  extended  to  include 
the  shipping  containers  used. 

It  is  equally  important,  however,  that  standardization  be  applied 
to  the  production  of  this  crop.  An  effort  is  being  made  in  many 
States  to  standardize  the  varieties  grown.  This  movement  aims  to 
confine  the  planting  in  each  section  to  a  very  few  varieties  which 
have  been  proven  the  best  for  that  locality.  An  endeavor  is  then 
made  to  plant  only  seed  true  to  name  and  of  the  best  selection.  The 
result  of  such  methods  is  to  standardize  these  few  varieties  of  pure 
strains  and  eventually  make  the  section  widely  known  as  producing 
certain  varieties  to  a  high  degree  of  perfection  and  in  large  quantities. 

There  is  a  special  need  of  standardization  of  potatoes,  because  they 
occupy  such  an  important  place  on  the  tables  of  most  families. 
Wholesalers  and  retailers  usually  aim  to  handle  potatoes  on  as  nar- 


HANDLING,  GRADING,  AND  MARKETING  POTATOES.  19 

row  a  margin  of  profit  and  expense  as  possible  because  they  are  such 
a  bulky,  comparatively  low  priced  and  widely  used  commodity,  but 
in  order  to  be  handled  on  the  narrowest  margins  the  product  must  be 
standardized  so  that  expense  and  risk  in  handling,  waste,  and  loss, 
are  reduced  to  a  minimum.  The  demand  at  this  time  is  for  the 
establishment  of  uniform  grades  for  potatoes  which  shall  be  accepted 
as  the  basis  for  all  trading  in  this  crop  throughout  the  country. 
Such  nationally  accepted  grades  would  give  buyer  and  seller  a  founda¬ 
tion  on  which  to  deal  with  a  better  understanding  and  mutual 
confidence. 

To-day  each  grower  or  community  usually  grades  according  to 
local  custom,  if  at  all,  and,  as  a  result,  wholesale  dealers  have  very 
little  confidence  in  the  quality  of  their  purchases  until  they  are 
carefully  inspected.  For  this  reason  these  firms  prefer  to  buy  from 
large  shippers,  or  farmers’  cooperative  marketing  agencies,  that  have 
built  up  a  reputation  for  shipping  only  uniformly  high-grade  products. 

The  manager  of  a  growers’  association  that  markets  truck  crops 
and  small  fruits  stated  recently  that  they  had  gone  out  of  their  regu¬ 
lar  line  during  the  past  season  and  marketed  a  large  crop  of  barreled 
apples.  When  asked  if  these  were  packed  under  the  State  apple¬ 
grading  law  and  also  regarding  the  success  of  this  law  and  grades,  he 
said:  “It  certainly  has  been  the  means  of  great  improvement,  for  I 
sold  that  crop  of  apples  without  seeing  or  inspecting  them,  to  a  dis¬ 
tant  buyer  who  had  no  means  of  inspection  until  the  fruit  arrived,  all 
on  the  statement  that  the  fruit  was  packed  under  these  established 
State  grades,  and  every  car  was  accepted  on  arrival.”  This  is  a 
concrete  example  of  what  is  being  accomplished  on  a  crop  which  is 
far  more  perishable  than  potatoes  and  which  requires  more  careful 
handling  and  packing. 

Organizations  of  growers  and  shippers  have  advocated  National 
standards  and  grades  for  potatoes,  which  the  various  States  might 
also  establish,  in  order  to  obtain  fixed  uniform  standards.  The 
States  could  compel  the  use  of  such  grades  whenever  any  grades  were 
used,  thus  forcing  growers,  buyers,  and  dealers  on  the  market  to  use 
and  respect  those  grades.  All  rejections  and  disputes  will  be  much 
easier  to  adjust  when  such  a  basis  is  established. 

The  diversity  in  varieties  and  shapes  and  the  difference  between 
the  early  and  late  crops  must  be  recognized,  and  it  is  possible  that 
variations  in  standards  will  be  found  necessary. 

MARKET  PREFERENCES. 

It  can  not  be  said  that  market  demands  are  unreasonable.  The 
standards  demanded  or  preferred  by  the  wholesale  dealer  are  not  to 
be  feared.  A  few  large  consumers,  such  as  railroad  dining-car  depart¬ 
ments,  hotels,  and  clubs,  are  willing  to  pay  an  extra  price  in  order  to 


20 


FARMERS*  BULLETIN  753. 


obtain  specially  selected,  practically  perfect  stock,  such  as  is  shown  in 
figure  15.  It  is  said  that  at  times  the  offerings  of  potatoes  of  this 
grade  are  not  sufficient  to  meet  the  demand. 

Most  growers,  however,  are  more  interested  in  the  demands  of  the 
average  consumer.  This  great  class  of  buyers  asks  only  for  a  grade  of 
potatoes  which  is  sound,  free  from  culls  or  waste  stock,  and  of  good 
average  size.  The  important  point  is  that  this  class  of  consumers  does 
not  like  to  pay  retail  prices  for  defective,  diseased  potatoes  or  any 
commodity  on  which  there  is  an  unnecessary  waste  in  preparation 


for  the  table.  Deep¬ 
eyed  potatoes  are  not 
so  desirable  as  the  shal¬ 
low-eyed,  smooth  va¬ 
rieties.  Dealers  state 
that  in  addition  to 
these  two  classes  of 
buyers  there  is  a  suffi¬ 
cient  outlet  among 
other  classes  of  trade 
for  a  good  second 
grade  of  potatoes. 

It  is  a  mistake,  then, 
for  growers  or  shippers 
to  force  ungraded  or 
poorly  graded  potatoes 
on  the  second  great 
class  of  buyers,  the 
average  consumer  who 
uses  the  larger  portion 
of  the  crop,  for  these 
potatoes  do  not  meet  the  demand  and  will  seldom  return  the  grower 
as  large  a  profit  as  will  well-graded  stock. 


Fig.  15.— Selected,  nearly  perfect,  uniform-sized,  wrapped  baking 
potatoes.  Shipped  in  about  100-pound  crates. 


REQUISITES  OF  STANDARD  COMMERCIAL  GRADES. 

The  investigations  conducted  have  not  proceeded  to  a  point  where 
it  is  deemed  wise  to  recommend  definite  grades  for  potatoes,  but  the 
need  and  value  of  such  standards  is  generally  recognized.  It  is 
believed  that  with  relatively  little  trouble  and  expense  needed  im¬ 
provements  can  be  made  and  better  results  in  marketing  realized. 
The  suggestions  that  follow,  concerning  requisites  of  standard  com¬ 
mercial  grades,  are  given  for  this  reason  and  in  order  to  assist  grow¬ 
ers,  shippers,  associations,  or  others  now  interested  in  the  standardi¬ 
zation  of  this  crop. 

From  the  investigations  conducted  up  to  this  time  and  from  a  con¬ 
sideration  of  present  commercial  practices,  it  would  appear  that  only 
two  regular  commercial  grades  would  be  necessary  for  the  large  com- 


HANDLING,  GRADING,  AND  MARKETING  POTATOES.  21 

mercial  potato  movement:  No.  1  and  No.  2  grades.  In  addition  a 
“Special”  or  “Extra  Fancy”  grade  of  large  potatoes  might  be  pro¬ 
vided,  for  the  dining  car  and  hotel  trade.  Potatoes  for  this  special 
grade  should  be  of  uniform  size,  from  10  ounces  to  1  or  2  pounds  in 
weight,  smooth,  clean,  and  free  from  all  defects.  Potatoes  of  this  grade, 
when  crated,  are  usually  wrapped.  (See  fig.  15.) 

Fruits  and  vegetables  sell  largely  upon  their  appearance,  therefore 
the  specifications  for  the  No.  1  grade  should  be  drawn  to  make  it  as 
good  and  attractive  in  appearance  as  is  reasonable  and  practicable. 
These  specifications  should  practically  eliminate  potatoes  damaged 
by  frost,  sunburn,  blight,  common  scab,  dry  rot,  decay,  second  growth, 
cuts,  bruises,  or  dirt,  and  also  undersized  or  coarse  stock.  The  mini¬ 
mum  and  maximum  sizes  for  both  No.  1  and  No.  2  grades  are  still  a 
subject  for  careful  investigation,  discussion,  and  demonstration. 
However,  a  minimum  of  about  2  inches  is  maintained  in  a  number 
of  early  or  “new”  potato  sections,  and  the  commonly  discussed  mini¬ 
mum  for  this  grade  is  from  lj  to  2  inches.  The  minimum  diameter 
for  a  long  variety  should  probably  be  a  little  smaller  than  for  a  round 
one.  Since  it  is  practically  impossible  in  grading  any  perishable 
products  commercially  to  secure  a  perfect  grade,  reasonable  tolerances 
should  be  allowed.*  The  No.  1  grade  should  be  packed  in  new,  clean 
sacks  or  barrels,  each  to  contain  one  variety  only  and  to  be  well  filled 
and  securely  sewed  or  covered. 

Most  growers  and  shippers  appear  to  be  prejudiced  against  marking 
or  selling  any  product  as  No.  2,  or  second  grade.  This  feeling  should 
not  prevail,  for  it  seems  certain  that  when  a  crop  is  properly  sorted  and 
all  grades  sold  strictly  on  their  merits,  the  average  price  obtained  will 
be  higher  than  for  ungraded  or  poorly  graded  stock. 

All  growers  should  aim  to  produce  as  large  a  proportion  of  potatoes 
of  No.  1  quality  as  possible,  and  if  the  crop  is  all  of  first  grade  it  should 
be  so  marked,  but  some  persons  apparently  wish  to  continue  the  prac¬ 
tice  of  making  only  one  grade  or  of  making  the  first  grade  include 
entirely  too  large  a  part  of  the  crop,  in  fact  nearly  all  of  it,  when  the 
crop  as  a  whole  falls  far  short  of  first  grade.  When  market  demands 
are  considered  it  can  hardly  be  supposed  that  such  grading  would 
accomplish  the  results  desired.  Such  a  grade  would  be  neither  as 
good  nor  as  attractive  as  it  is  possible  and  practicable  to  make  it, 
because  there  are  in  most  crops  many  slightly  imperfect,  undersized, 
or  coarse  potatoes  which  if  removed  would  leave  a  strictly  first-class 
grade  and  yet  these  imperfect  potatoes  of  themselves  would  constitute 
a  marketable  No.  2  grade.  It  is  to  be  remembered  also  that  very  fre¬ 
quently  a  grower’s  crop  from  some  cause — weather,  soil,  season,  or 
seed — runs  under  average  size,  or  in  some  other  way  contains  so  large 
a  percentage  of  stock  not  of  No.  1  grade  that  it  seems  best  to  market 
the  entire  crop  as  No.  2  grade.  The  No.  2  grade  should  include  no 


22 


FARMERS 9  BULLETIN  753. 


stock  which  is  not  of  desirable  quality  both  for  market  and  for  table 
use  and  should  be  of  fair  average  size.  While  broad  enough  to  include 
a  reasonable  amount  of  imperfections  not  allowed  in  the  No.  1  grade, 
such  as  potatoes  showing  a  reasonable  percentage  of  second  growth, 
cuts,  or  common  scab,  this  grade  should  not  contain  all  that  is  left 
when  the  No.  1  grade  is  taken  out,  for  the  culls  should  be  kept  on  the 
farm.  The  minimum  size  possibly  should  be  as  much  as  one-fourth 
to  three-eighths  of  an  inch  lower  than  for  No.  1  grade.  Every  sack, 
barrel,  or  other  package  containing  potatoes  of  this  grade  should  be 
plainly  marked  “No.  2  grade.” 

In  order  to  eliminate  the  deception  sometimes  practiced  in  the  past, 
no  facing  or  topping  with  the  best  or  largest  potatoes  should  be 
allowed  in  barrels,  sacks,  or  other  containers.  The  average  of  the 
potatoes  in  the  face  of  any  container  should  represent  fairly  the  aver¬ 
age  quality  and  size  of  the  entire  contents  of  the  package. 

If  further  investigations  show  that  it  is  necessary  to  have  one  stand¬ 
ard  for  northern  or  “late”  potatoes  and  another  for  southern  or 
“early”  potatoes,  that  may  be  arranged.  However,  at  this  time  the 
standards  here  discussed  seem  suitable  for  both  the  northern  and 
southern  crops.  In  devising  standards  for  potatoes  both  the  prefer¬ 
ences  of  the  trade  and  the  consumer  throughout  the  country  and  the 
needs  of  the  grower  and  his  crop  as  produced  in  various  sections 
must  be  harmonized.  The  grades  must  be  neither  impracticable  nor 
unfair  to  the  growers,  dealers,  or  consumers. 

IMPROVEMENT  THROUGH  COOPERATIVE  ORGANIZATIONS. 

In  most  producing  sections  it  is  found  very  difficult,  if  not  impos¬ 
sible,  to  secure  any  considerable  voluntary  inprovement  in  the 
grading  and  handling  of  products  except  through  the  endeavors  of 
cooperative  marketing  organizations.  By  reason  of  a  lack  of  knowl¬ 
edge  of  market  requirements,  carelessness,  or  a  desire  to  force  the 
market  to  take  such  stock  as  it  suits  his  convenience  to  ship,  the 
grower  has  failed  to  a  large  extent  to  make  any  headway  in  the 
standardization  of  the  crop.  Although  this  lack  of  standardization 
is  often  the  cause  of  glutted  or  draggy  markets  it  is  everywhere  found 
extremely  difficult  to  induce  the  individual  grower  to  prepare  his 
crop  for  market  properly.  There  are  numerous  benefits  to  be  gained 
by  growers  shipping  their  potatoes  through  a  strong  cooperative 
marketing  organization  and  this  has  been  demonstrated  to  be  the 
most  successful  method  of  securing  a  uniform  grade  of  perishable 
products,  properly  packed  in  standard  packages.  Farmers’  cooper¬ 
ative  marketing  organizations,  or  strong  private  shipping  firms 
supply  the  major  part  of  the  standardized  fruits  and  vegetables 
found  on  the  markets  at  this  time.  Many  of  these  organizations 
and  private  agencies  may  be  found  in  Florida,  California,  the  North- 


^Jixotaating  copy 


Agricultural  Library 

HANDLING,  GRADING,  AND  MARKETING  POTATOES.  23 

west  and  other  localities.  Many  of  them  have  found  it  necessary, 
in  order  to  build  up  a  profitable  business  and  establish  a  reputation 
on  the  market  for  shipping  products  of  high  quality,  to  establish 
their  own  association,  or  private  packing  plants,  in  which  the  pro¬ 
ducts  delivered  by  the  growers  in  bulk  may  be  graded  and  packed 
by  skilled  workers. 

Attention  is  called  to  the  description  of  the  handling  and  inspec¬ 
tion  methods  of  a  potato  association  in  Virginia,  page  7.  Another 
organization  in  Idaho  is  meeting  with  success  in  its  grading,  but  an 
unusual  system  is  in  use.  A  part  of  the  crop  is  sorted  into  grades 
according  to  weight,  four  to  six  ounce  grades,  six  to  eight  ounce, 
eight  to  twelve,  twelve  to  sixteen,  sixteen  to  twenty,  and  from  twenty 
ounces  up.  At  principal  loading  stations  power  graders  have  been 
installed.  A  chain  elevator  carries  the  potatoes  from  a  hopper  to 
a  long  table.  Here  pickers  remove  singly  and  by  hand  each  desira¬ 
ble  potato  from  the  conveyer  to  another  chain  conveyer  which  carries 
one  potato  in  each  compartment,  to  the  end  of  the  table  where  they 
are  automatically  sized  according  to  weight.  The  potatoes  are  then 
boxed  or  sacked  according  to  the  grades  already  mentioned. 

In  this  locality  it  has  been  found  impossible  to  get  some  of  the 
growers  to  eliminate  enough  of  the  defective  potatoes  to  make  a 
proper  commercial  grade.  Therefore,  community  or  association 
grading  warehouses  were  found  an  absolute  necessity,  and  were  used 
for  sorting  out  their  usual  commercial  grades  before  this  more  exact¬ 
ing  system  was  installed. 

A  number  of  other  cooperative  potato  marketing  agencies  in  other 
States,  some  quite  successful,  might  also  be  cited.  Cooperation  in 
marketing  can  not  reach  its  highest  degree  of  success  unless  it  is 
supported  heartily  by  all  the  growers. 

CONTAINERS.1 

Potatoes  should  be  packed  in  new,  clean  containers,  of  uniform 
size.  The  use  of  second-hand  sacks,  barrels  or  other  packages,  should 
be  discouraged.  It  is  important  that  the  containers  used  for  every 
farm  crop  shall  be,  first,  sufficiently  strong  and  durable,  and  then 
attractive;  otherwise  the  profitable  marketing  of  the  crop  may  be 
handicapped.  Nearly  all  farm  products  must  be  transported  over 
long  distances  and  after  they  reach  the  large  market  they  may  be 
reshipped  and  rehandled  many  times,  so  that  only  strong  packages 
which  will  stand  this  handling  should  be  used.  If  it  is  necessary  to  use 
second-hand  containers,  only  those  that  are  clean  and  in  good  repair 
should  be  chosen.  The  attractiveness  of  the  package  as  well  as  the 


i  For  a  description  of  crates  and  requirements  for  exporting  potatoes  to  South  America  see  Commerce 
Reports,  No.  212,  Sept.  10,  1915,  page  1236 — “Developing  Trade  in  Potatoes  with  South  America,”  by 
Clarence  W.  Moomaw. 


24 


FARMERS*  BULLETIN  153. 


stock,  has  much  to  do  with  the  price  which  will  be  realized,  and  broken, 
or  dirty  barrels,  crates,  or  hampers  or  rotten,  ragged,  dirty  sacks  are 
not  attractive  and  will  not  transport  the  contents  safely  to  market. 

No  standard  container  for  the  shipment  of  potatoes  has  been  estab¬ 
lished  by  law,  but  the  Federal  standard  barrel  act  fixes  the  capacity 
of  the  barrel  commonly  used  for  potatoes.  There  are  now  a  number 
of  types  and  sizes  of  containers  used  for  the  shipment  of  potatoes  in 
different  parts  of  the  country.  In  California  the  lug  box  and  the 
burlap  bag  holding  100  to  120  pounds  are  used.  Burlap  bags  varying 
in  size  from  100  to  120  pounds  are  used  in  practically  all  sections 
west  of  the  Mississippi  River;  an  85  to  90  pound  sack  is  used  in 
Mississippi.  In  the  Moorhead,  Minn.,  district  the  2-bushel  sack  is 
used  almost  exclusively.  In  other  sections  of  Minnesota,  Wisconsin, 
Michigan,  New  York,  and  Maine  many  potatoes  are  shipped  in  bulk. 
Bags  holding  150  pounds  are  also  used  in  Minnesota,  Wisconsin,  and 
Michigan,  while  in  New  York  and  Maine  bags  holding  150  to  165  and 
180  pounds  are  used.  In  the  past  veneer  barrels  and  wooden  stave 
barrels  holding  10,  11,  and  sometimes  12  pecks,  or  150,  165,  and  180 
pounds  have  been  used  in  Maine  and  along  the  Atlantic  Seaboard 
(see  figs.  2,  4,  and  13).  Virginia,  North  and  South  Carolina,  and 
Florida  have  shipped  nearly  all  of  their  crop  in  these  10  and  11  peck 
barrels.  Complaint  is  made  that  machine-made  veneer  staves  or 
plaited  veneer  barrels  used  in  South  Carolina  and  some  other  sections 
(see  fig.  4)  are  not  satisfactory  as  containers  for  potatoes.  They 
seem  especially  unsuited  for  shipping  to  western  markets,  the  heavier 
stave  barrel  used  in  Virginia  being  preferred  because  too  many  of  the 
lighter  ones  get  crushed  or  go  to  pieces  in  the  cars  or  before  they  have 
passed  through  the  trade  channels  to  the  retailer. 

The  act  of  March  4,  1915  (38  Stat.,  1186),  commonly  known  as  the 
standard  barrel  act,  among  other  things,  provides  for  a  standard 
barrel  of  the  following  dimensions:  Length  of  stave,  28 J  inches; 
diameter  of  heads,  17|  inches;  distance  between  heads,  26  inches; 
circumference  of  bulge,  64  inches,  outside  measurement;  and  the  thick¬ 
ness  of  staves  not  greater  than  four-tenths  of  an  inch.  The  capacity 
of  this  barrel  is  7,056  cubic  inches.  (This  capacity  is  a  little  more 
than  3  bushels.)  In  most  sections  of  the  country  the  standard  barrel 
has  already  been  adopted  in  anticipation  of  the  requirements  of  the 
law.  This  act  is  administered  by  the  Department  of  Commerce 
through  the  Director  of  the  Bureau  of  Standards.  Requests  for  in¬ 
formation  in  regard  to  its  interpretation  and  enforcement  should 
be  addressed  to  that  department. 

Early  new  potatoes  are  shipped  from  some  parts  of  Florida  and 
some  other  Southern  States  in  bushel  hampers.  Only  a  very  small 
percentage  of  the  crop  is  shipped  in  this  way.  The  railroads  make 
strong  objections  to  this  package,  pointing  out  that  it  is  not  of  suffi¬ 
ciently  strong  construction  to  be  a  safe  container  for  such  articles  as 


HANDLING,  GRADING,  AND  MARKETING  POTATOES. 


25 


potatoes,  cucumbers,  and  squash,  and  the  condition  of  many  ship¬ 
ments  examined  in  the  markets  proves  the  justice  of  their  contention. 
When  hampers  are  used  a  particular  method  should  be  observed  in 
loading  as  described  on  page  29.  Crates  and  boxes  are  usual  for  the 
“Extra  Fancy”  or  “Special”  grade  of  potatoes  prepared  for  dining 
cars,  hotels,  and  restaurants.  These  are  mostly  of  about  45  to  50 
and  100  pounds  capacity.  (See  fig.  15.)  A  slat  crate  containing 
about  a  bushel  is  used  in  parts  of  Mississippi  for  new  potatoes. 

The  use  of  containers  of  so  many  types  and  sizes  for  potatoes  seems 
entirely  unnecessary.  It  causes  confusion  in  the  markets  and  makes 
the  quoting  of  market  prices  more  difficult.  The  cloth-top  barrels 
used  extensively  in  the  East  are  not  an  attractive  package,  and  as 
sometimes  handled  and  loaded  in  cars  are  frequently  the  cause  of 
losses  to  shippers.  The  veneer  barrel  has  been  referred  to  previously 
as  an  unsatisfactory  package  for  potatoes.  On  account  of  their 
weight  it  is  usually  necessary  to  employ  two  men  to  load  and  handle 
potatoes  in  barrels  or  the  large  10,  11,  and  12  peck  sacks.  In  some 
markets  men  may  be  seen  handling  these  large  sacks  with  hooks 
similar  to  hay  hooks.  This  practice  can  not  be  too  severely  con¬ 
demned,  as  the  hooks  are  certain  to  injure  the  potatoes  in  the  bags. 

Investigators  of  the  Department  of  Agriculture  have  made  careful 
inquiries  among  shippers,  associations,  and  dealers  in  the  markets  to 
learn  the  general  sentiment  concerning  these  packages  and  a  standard 
container  to  replace  them.  While  there  are  a  few  good  reasons  for 
the  retention  of  some  of  the  packages  now  in  use,  there  is  a  very 
general  feeling  that  a  burlap  bag  holding  about  2  bushels,  or  120 
pounds,  is  the  most  satisfactory  package  now  in  use  and  that  it  would 
be  feasible  and  desirable  to  replace  the  larger  bags  and  the  barrel 
with  this  container.  Some  doubt  is  expressed  as  to  the  advisability 
of  shipping  in  sacks  the  early  immature  potatoes  that  now  move  in 
barrels,  on  account  of  the  likelihood  of  their  becoming  skinned 
and  bruised,  but  it  is  to  be  remembered  that  nearly  all  of  the  early 
potatoes  grown  in  California  and  all  of  those  grown  in  Texas,  Okla¬ 
homa,  Louisiana,  and  Kansas  are  successfully  shipped  in  sacks  hold¬ 
ing  about  120  pounds.  Potatoes  in  that  package  are  easy  to  handle 
and  load  safely  and  well  in  cars.  It  has  proven  a  satisfactory  container. 

A  few  experiments  have  been  made  in  preparing  potatoes  for 
market  in  smaller  containers  which,  after  passing  through  the  usual 
trade  channels,  will  eventually  reach  the  consumer  in  the  original 
unbroken  package.  Cardboard  or  similar  containers  holding  from  10 
to  20  pounds  have  been  used.  One  holding  an  even  peck  and  bearing 
neat  advertising  on  each  side  has  been  noted.  It  appears  certain 
that  a  profitable  trade  in  uniform,  fancy,  graded  potatoes  in  such 
packages  could  be  established  in  most  cities  through  enterprising 
retailers.  The  principal  requirements  seem  to  be  well-graded  stock, 


26 


FARMERS*  BULLETIN  753. 


possibly  each  package  containing  only  potatoes  of  one  size,  as  from 
6  to  8  or  8  to  10  ounces;  a  continuous  supply;  wholesale  and  retail 
dealers  willing  to  make  an  effort  to  introduce  such  a  package  and 
push  it;  and  lastly,  an  article  at  a  fair  price. 

BRANDS. 

A  brand  is  a  distinctive  identification  mark  and  its  use  is  a  very 
effective  advertising  medium.  Several  large  potato-shipping  associa¬ 
tions  have  adopted  brands  which  have  become  well  known,  and  these 
have  doubtless  been  of  value  in  selling  their  output  when  the  grade 
has  been  kept  up  to  standard,  so  that  critical  buyers  might  depend 
upon  always  securing  the  same  quality. 

Most  of  the  box-apple  shippers  of  the  West  and  the  orange  ship¬ 
pers  of  California  and  Florida  have  adopted  brands  and  labels.  Their 
results  have  shown  that  fruit  shipped  in  this  manner  sells  more  readily 
and  generally  brings  more  money.  Branded  material  or  sacks  should 
not  be  loaned  or  sold  to  neighboring  farmers  or  shippers  who  may  not 
grade  their  stock.  The  use  of  a  brand  is  recommended  only  when  a 
shipper  intends  to  establish  and  maintain  a  reputation  for  the  qual¬ 
ity  of  his  potatoes,  for  if  the  grade  and  quality  are  not  sustained 
the  purpose  for  which  the  brand  was  intended  is  defeated. 

MARKING  PACKAGES  OF  POTATOES  TO  SHOW  QUANTITY  OF  CONTENTS. 

The  act  of  March  3,  1915  (37  St  at.,  732),  commonly  known  as  the 
net  weight  amendment  to  the  Federal  food  and  drugs  act,  provides 
in  substance  that  an  article  of  food  shall  be  deemed  to  be  misbranded 
if  it  be  in  package  form  and  the  quantity  of  the  contents  be  not  plainly 
and  conspicuously  marked  on  the  outside  in  terms  of  weight,  measure, 
or  numerical  count. 

All  articles  of  food,  including  potatoes,  shipped  in  interstate  or 
foreign  commerce,  or  offered  for  sale  in  the  District  of  Columbia  or 
Territories  of  the  United  States,  are  subject  to  the  provisions  of  the 
net  weight  amendment,  if  in  package  form.  This  act  is  administered 
by  the  Bureau  of  Chemistry  of  the  Department  of  Agriculture.  All 
requests  for  interpretations  of  the  law  and  for  instructions  with  regard 
to  marking  packages  should  be  addressed  to  the  Chief  of  the  Bureau 
of  Chemistry,  Department  of  Agriculture,  Washington,  D.  C. 

LOADING  CARS. 

Experience  in  the  barrel-apple  States  has  demonstrated  the  best 
method  of  loading  apples  packed  in  double-headed  barrels.  The 
same  method  has  proven  safest  in  Florida  for  potatoes  in  similar  bar¬ 
rels.  Figure  16  shows  this  method.  The  barrels  are  lying  down 
across  the  car.  Three  placed  together  end  to  end  will  extend  across 
the  car  except  for  a  space  of  about  a  foot  and  a  half.  This  space 


HANDLING,  GRADING,  AND  MARKETING  POTATOES.  27 

should  be  left  first  on  one  side  and  then  on  the  other;  that  is,  if  the 
first  three  barrels  on  the  bottom  are  loaded  from  the  right  of  the  car, 
the  next  row  above  should  start  from  the  left.  This  will  bring  the 
bulges,  of  the  barrels  in  the  second  row  between  the  bulges  of  those 
below,  which  will  make  the  load  ride  better  and  relieve  the  pressure  on 
the  bulges  of  the  barrels.  As  each  successive  row  is  placed  on  the 
bottom  of  the  car  the  barrels  should  be  “  chocked’ ’  so  that  the  loading 
will  be  kept  tight  until  the  car  is  full  to  the  doors.  The  barrels  so 
loaded  will  usually  come  out  just  even  and  make  a  solid  load;  if  they 
do  not  they  should  be  well  “ chocked”  or  braced  in  the  center  of  the 
car.  Unless  the  barrels  are  well  made  the  heads  and  hoops  securely 


Fig.  16.— Method  ofloading  potatoes  in  double-headed  barrels. 

and  properly  in  place,  even  double4ieaded  barrels  of  potatoes  should 
not  be  loaded  in  this  manner,  but  should  be  placed  on  end,  as  suggested 
for  cloth  top  barrels. 

LOADING  NEW  POTATOES. 

Stock  cars  are  generally  used  for  the  transportation  of  new  potatoes 
from  the  southwest,  as  they  afford  plenty  of  ventilation,  which  is  a 
prerequisite  to  satisfactory  shipment.  Extreme  caution  should  be 
exercised  by  the  shipper  to  see  that  the  car  is  clean  and  the  roof 
sound.  If  it  is  not,  the  attention  of  the  railroad  company  should  be 
directed  to  the  defects  and  either  another  car  should  be  secured  or  the 
defective  and  dirty  one  repaired  and  cleaned,  as  a  dirty  car  often  has 
a  harmful  effect  on  the  potatoes. 


28 


FARMERS 9  BULLETIN  753. 


Loading  “ Texas’ ’  style  is  the  customary  manner  in  the  South¬ 
western  States,  where  plenty  of  ventilation  is  required  on  account  of 
the  tenderness  of  the  tubers,  heat  at  time  of  shipments,  and  the  usually 
long  haul  by  the  transportation  companies.  Most  of  the  shipping 
from  Texas,  Oklahoma,  Arkansas,  and  Louisiana  is  made  by  indi¬ 
viduals,  who  superintend  their  own  loading.  Usually  two  men  are 
required  to  load,  although  on  account  of  the  size  of  the  sacks  one 
man  should  be  able  to  load  a  car  economically  and  satisfactorily. 
An  aisle  sufficiently  wide  to  permit  passage  is  left  from  end  to  end 
of  the  car  for  the  purpose  of  ventilation  and  inspection.  The  sacks, 
which  usually  contain  about  2  bushels,  are  placed  on  end  from  two 
to  four  deep  on  each  side  of  the  aisle  depending  upon  the  size  of  the 


Fig.  17.— Carload  of  potatoe^in  cloth-top  barrels  ready  for  market. 

car.  Then  one  layer  of  sacks  is  laid  flat  on  top,  or  two  layers  may  be 
necessary  over  a  part  of  the  car,  in  order  to  reach  the  minimum  carload 
weight. 

In  some  sections  of  the  West  a  small  two-wheeled  truck  is  used  to 
advantage  in  cars,  to  truck  sacks  of  potatoes  from  the  door  back 
toward  the  ends  of  the  car  when  loading,  or  to  truck  from  the  ends 
when  unloading.  This  makes  the  work  of  loading  or  unloading  much 
easier  and  also  saves  time. 

In  loading  potatoes  in  cloth  or  burlap-covered  barrels  the  lowest 
tier  in  the  car  should  always  be  loaded  on  end  with  tops  up,  and  the 
next  tier  should  also  be  arranged  on  end  if  the  tier  is  filled  entirely 
(see  fig.  17).  This  tier  is  not  usually  filled  and  for  that  reason  the 
last  row  across  the  car  on  each  side  of  the  doors  should  be  laid  down 
with  the  bottoms  toward  the  end  of  the  car.  This  is  done  to  brace 


HANDLING,  GRADING,  AND  MARKETING  POTATOES. 


29 


the  standing  barrels  and  make  the  load  more  secure.  Potatoes  in 
cloth  or  burlap  covered  barrels  should  never  be  loaded  lying  down, 
except  for  the  few  barrels  to  brace  the  load. 

Potatoes  in  hampers  should  never  be  loaded  on  their  sides,  because 
the  weight  of  the  upper  tiers,  combined  with  the  jolting  or  bumping 
of  the  cars,  is  too  likely  to  crush  the  lower  baskets  or  tear  or  force  off 
covers.  These  hampers  should  be  loaded  alternately,  the  first  one 
top  down,  the  next  bottom  down  and  so  on.  This  makes  a  much  safer 
load  and  one  that  will  ride  well. 

LOADING  OLD  POTATOES. 

In  the  North  the  sacks  are  often  loaded  standing,  one  tier  on  end 
and  then  another  tier  on  top  of  the  first,  during  moderately  cool 
weather  or  prior  to  October  1 ;  in  other  cases  the  second  tier  of  sacks 
is  laid  down  on  top  of  the  first  and  across  the  car.  To  permit  a  free 
circulation  of  air  in  the  car  a  little  space  is  left  between  some  of  the 
rows. 

In  cold  weather  the  sacks  are  usually  laid  flat,  sometimes  crosswise 
and  sometimes  lengthwise,  in  the  car.  They  should  be  piled  in  even 
tiers  so  that  they  can  be  checked  off  and  counted  readily.  In  many 
sections,  to  prevent  freezing  in  cold  weather,  a  generous  supply  of 
straw  is  piled  in  the  ends  on  the  floor,  along  the  sides  of  the  car,  and 
especially  around  the  doors  before  loading. 

MARKETING.1 

The  distribution  of  the  potato  crop  varies  from  year  to  year  with 
the  difference  in  production  in  the  several  principal  growing  States. 
Michigan  shipped  some  of  its  1915  crop  into  potato-growing  districts 
of  New  York  State  which  would  have  been  shipping  out  hundreds 
of  cars  had  their  crop  not  been  very  light.  The  early  potato-pro¬ 
ducing  States  of  the  South  scarcely  finish  digging  and  shipping  out 
in  the  spring  and  summer  before  they  begin  shipping  in  from  the 
northern  sections. 

Many  of  the  improvements  needed  to  bring  about  better  marketing 
depend  largely  upon  the  grower  or  shipper.  A  selling  agent,  no  mat¬ 
ter  whether  he  is  appointed  by  a  number  of  growers  to  sell  their  crop, 
or  whether  he  is  a  commission  merchant  in  whose  hands  the  grower 
places  his  potatoes,  should  have  well-graded,  uniform,  and  sound 
stock  put  up  in  a  neat,  clean,  and  attractive  manner.  As  long  as 
insufficient  attention  is  given  to  proper  grading  and  packing,  just  so 

1  For  a  discussion  of  outlets  and  methods  of  sale  for  shippers  of  fruits  and  vegetables,  see  Fisher,  J.  W. ,  j  r . ; 
Collins,  J.  H.;  and  Sherman,  Wells  A.,  Outlets  and  Methods  of  Sale  for  Shippers  of  Fruits  and  Vegeta¬ 
bles.  U.  S.  Department  of  Agriculture  Bui.  266,  1915. 

For  explanation  of  distribution  methods  and  charges  in  the  city,  see  Collins,  J.  H.;  Fisher,  J.  W.,  jr.; 
and  Sherman,  Wells  A.,  Methods  of  Wholesale  Distribution  of  Fruits  and  Vegetables  on  Large  Markets, 
U.  S.  Department  of  Agriculture,  Bui.  267,  1915. 


30 


FARMERS 9  BULLETIN  753. 


long  will  the  results  in  marketing  be  unsatisfactory.  A  cash  buyer 
will  usually  pay  a  little  more  for  well-graded  potatoes  than  for  stock 
not  uniformly  prepared. 

The  marketing  methods  employed  in  the  southern,  or  what  is  bet¬ 
ter  known  to  the  trade  as  the  “new  deal,”  and  the  northern,  or  “old 
deal,”  are  somewhat  different.  This  variance  is  brought  about  by 
different  methods  employed  in  handling  the  crops,  periods  of  maturity, 
the  perishability  of  the  products,  length  of  season,  and  local  custom. 

MARKETING  SOUTHERN  OR  “NEW”  POTATOES. 

The  southern  crop,  on  account  of  its  perishable  nature,  must  be 
marketed  quickly,  while  the  northern  crop  can  be  held  in  storage 
for  months.  The  shipments  of  the  new  crop  from  the  Southwest 
begin  in  Louisiana  and  Texas  about  the  1st  of  May  and  continue 
ordinarily  until  about  the  15th  of  June,  when  Arkansas  and  Okla¬ 
homa  begin  to  ship.  These  districts  usually  ship  until  about  the  5th 
of  July,  when  the  season  of  the  district  around  Kansas  City,  better 
known  as  the  “Kaw  Valley”  section,  opens  up,  lasting  about  six 
weeks. 

One  distinctive  feature  of  the  “new  deal”  in  the  Southwest  is  that 
a  large  number  of  cash  buyers  representing  different  wholesale  fruit 
and  produce  firms  and  distributing  agencies  scattered  over  the  United 
States  come  to  these  sections  to  buy.  The  crops  are  usually  sold 
through  local  representatives  and  through  distributing  agencies 
who  have  previously  contracted  with  the  growers  to  sell  their  crops, 
although  there  are  many  of  the  growers  who  sell  their  own.  One 
advantage  to  the  grower  of  having  a  selling  agent  on  the  ground  is 
that  through  the  agent  handling  the  crops,  the  buyers  are  usually  all 
quoted  the  same  price,  thus  maintaining  a  stable,  healthy  market.  The 
growers  who  are  not  selling  through  this  agent  apparently  have  the 
same  outlet  through  the  cash  buyers  without  paying  the  selling  agent’s 
commission,  but  they  do  not  have  the  same  knowledge  of  market 
conditions  or  of  supply  and  demand.  The  growers’  agent  also  sells 
a  good  percentage  of  his  shipments  by  wire  to  his  buyers  in  distant 
markets  at  advantageous  prices.  Usually  the  independent  grower 
has  neither  these  market  connections  nor  a  knowledge  of  the  financial 
or  moral  rating  of  the  dealers.  As  a  rule,  cash  buyers  on  the  ground 
are  quoted  a  lower  price  than  is  quoted  to  buyers  in  distant  markets 
by  wire. 

These  selling  agents  receive  a  commission  on  the  selling  price  (or 
sometimes  a  fixed  amount  per  car)  from  the  growers  and  it  is  to  their 
interest  to  sell  the  potatoes  for  as  much  as  possible,  since,  when  they 
are  selling  on  a  commission  basis,  their  commission  will  be  increased 
accordingly. 


HANDLING,  GRADING,  AND  MARKETING  POTATOES. 


31 


Selling  methods  along  the  Atlantic  seaboard  from  Florida  north 
to  Virginia  differ  somewhat  from  those  of  the  southwestern  sections. 
The  cash  buyers  and  distributors  are  present,  hut  much  more  con¬ 
signing  to  wholesalers  is  practiced,  especially  in  the  Carolinas  and  the 
Norfolk  section.  There  are  a  number  of  thriving  growers’  cooperative 
marketing  organizations  in  this  territory,  each  employing  a  com¬ 
petent  salesmanager  to  sell  the  growers’  output. 

MARKETING  NORTHERN  OR  LATE  POTATOES. 

Usually  the  “old  deal”  can  not  be  handled  on  the  same  basis  as 
the  “new  deal,”  because  about  three-fourths  of  the  crop  is^tored  by 
growers  and  warehousemen.  In  nearly  every  shipping  section  there 
are  a  number  of  local  operators  and  outside  distributors  who  purchase 
potatoes  extensively  at  harvesting  time  and  distribute  them  in  car 
lots  during  the  fall,  winter,  and  spring  to  all  parts  of  the  country. 
At  various  points  these  operators  have  warehouses  for  storing  the 
potatoes  until  they  deem  it  advisable  to  sell  and  ship  them.  Usually 
the  distributors  have  their  main  offices  in  the  large  cities  and  their 
warehouses  at  convenient  shipping  points  in  the  potato  districts. 
They  buy  either  from  the  farmers  direct  or  from  the  local  ware¬ 
housemen.  The  selling  methods  of  the  local  warehousemen  and 
the  distributor  are  about  the  same,  although  the  latter,  perhaps,  has 
the  more  adequate  selling  facilities  on  account  of  his  trade  connections. 

MARKET  OUTLETS  FOR  NORTHERN  GROWERS. 

In  the  field  not  dug  or  at  an  agreed  price  per  bushel  for  the  crop  f.  o.b. 
shipping  point. — Occasionally  a  grower  will  sell  his  crop  in  the 
ground  for  a  lump  sum  or  at  a  stipulated  price  per  bushel  f.  o.  h. 
cars  at  shipping  point;  the  former  method,  however,  is  unusual. 

For  cash  by  the  load  as  hauled ,  selling  to  track  buyers ,  local  ware¬ 
housemen,  or  distributors. — Growers  may  use  this  method  and  sell 
when  they  need  cash  or  when  convenient  and  other  work  allows  time 
for  sorting  and  hauling. 

To  cash  traveling  buyers  in  carloads. — A  grower  may  make  a  con¬ 
tract  with  a  track  buyer  to  load  one  or  more  cars  at  a  stipulated  price. 
This  method  is  general  in  some  northern  sections.  The  buyer  or  his 
representative  is  usually  there  to  inspect  the  stock  when  the  car  is 
loaded.  Potatoes  which  are  defective  in  quality  or  do  not  come  up 
to  grade  in  some  other  particular,  are  thrown  out  or  an  allowance  is 
demanded. 

To  local  warehousemen. — In  most  of  the  northern  producing  sec¬ 
tions  local  men  who  have  been  growers  at  one  time  or  business  men 
who  saw  an  opportunity  of  extending  their  operations,  have  entered 
the  potato  storing  and  shipping  business.  Usually  these  local  men 


32 


FARMERS 9  BULLETIN  753. 


have  warehouses  (see  fig.  18),  and  some  of  them  are  equipped  through¬ 
out  with  modern  machinery  for  sorting  and  handling  the  potatoes. 
If  the  stock  is  placed  in  storage  for  the  growers’  account  the  ware¬ 
houseman  may  arrange  with  the  grower  to  charge  him  a  price  per 
bushel  for  sorting  and  grading,  as  well  as  storing,  and  if  he  later  sells 
the  potatoes  a  commission  on  the  selling  price  is  added. 

To  distributors  who  may  have  local  warehouses. — The  distributor 
who  has  his  warehouse  at  the  loading  station  is  an  important  factor 
in  marketing  northern  potatoes.  His  storage  facilities  are  an 
advantage,  for  they  enable  him  to  serve  the  small  grower  who  has  not 
sufficient  acreage  to  warrant  him  in  providing  cellar  storage  of  his 
own.  In  this  way  the  business  of  the  small  grower  may  be  secured  at 
points  where  there  are  no  local  warehousemen.  There  are  a  number 


Fig.  18. — Local  warehouse  of  fireproof  construction.  Driveway  through  the  house  facilitates  unloading. 

of  reliable  distributors  operating  at  certain  points  in  the  late-potato 
districts  each  year,  owning  or  leasing  warehouses  (see  fig.  19),  on 
whom  the  growers  rely  to  some  extent  to  buy  or  market  their  crops. 

Shipping  on  consignment. — Although  most  growers  and  shippers 
prefer  to  sell  outright,  it  is  generally  conceded  that  under  present 
conditions  the  commission  merchant  is  a  necessary  factor  in  the  fruit 
and  produce  business.  The  success  of  this  method  of  marketing 
depends  very  largely  on  conditions. 

Frequently  a  grower  will  make  the  mistake  of  consigning  to  a  con¬ 
cern  of  which  he  knows  nothing,  or  of  shipping  his  potatoes  with  no 
knowledge  of  market  conditions  or  without  notifying  the  commission 
merchant.  It  is  obvious  that  the  grower  should  use  every  effort  to 
obtain  accurate  information  as  to  the  integrity  and  selling  ability  of 
those  with  whom  he  expects  to  do  business  and  then  keep  in  close  touch 


HANDLING,  GRADING,  AND  MARKETING  POTATOES.  33 

with  his  agent,  previous  to  shipping,  in  order  that  the  latter  may  fur¬ 
nish  him  the  very  best  information  concerning  the  market  conditions. 
He  should  always  furnish  his  agent  with  complete  information  as  to 
date  of  shipment,  shipping  point,  car  number,  initials,  route,  and 
contents,  either  by  letter  or  wire,  to  reach  the  commission  merchant 
in  ample  time  before  the  car  arrives,  so  that  arrangements  for  its 
sale  may  be  made.  Otherwise  the  merchant  may  have  on  track  or 
due  a  number  of  other  cars.  The  market  may  not  be  in  condition 
to  receive  further  shipments,  making  it  necessary  to  hold  the  car  on 
track  or  to  sacrifice  or  divert  it  to  another  market. 

One  of  the  reasons  why  the  grower  does  not  receive  the  highest 
market  price  for  his  potatoes  is  that  he  has  not  learned  to  ship  tubers 


Fig.  19. — Long  lines  of  these  warehouses  are  a  common  sight  at  Maine  loading  points 

of  good  quality  uniformly  graded.  Often  he  will  sell  his  best  pota¬ 
toes  and  consign  the  remainder.  The  commission  merchant  should 
not  be  condemned  severely  when  the  grower  receives  unsatisfactory 
reports  on  such  shipments.  Criticism  should  not  be  based  on  indi¬ 
vidual  sales,  but  average  results  should  be  considered. 

Selling  by  wire. — In  some  cases,  particularly  when  he  has  had 
marketing  experience,  the  grower  may  sell  his  crop  to  advantage  by 
wire,  in  the  same  manner  as  does  the  distributor  or  buyer,  as  will  be 
described  later.  Very  few  growers  have  the  experience  or  the  trade 
connections  to  market  in  this  manner,  so  the  method  is  not  com¬ 
monly  used.  The  shipper  or  grower  needs  an  intimate  acquaintance 
or  at  least  a  satisfactory  basis  for  dealing  with  the  broker,  buyers, 
and  receivers  on  the  markets.  Some  knowledge  of  railroad  trans- 


34 


FARMERS*  BULLETIN  753. 


portation  is  essential  as  well.1  The  ability  to  settle  disputes  satis¬ 
factorily  and  effect  compromises  is  necessary. 

Through  a  cooperative  marketing  organization. — Cooperative  organi¬ 
zations  for  marketing  table  and  seed  potatoes  are  increasing  in 
number.  This  method  of  marketing  deserves  the  growers’  careful 
consideration  and  loyal  patronage.  The  possibilities  of  such  organi¬ 
zations  when  efficiently  managed  and  heartily  supported  by  growers 
are  almost  unlimited. 

distributors’  outlets. 

Since  a  large  part  of  the  northern  crop  is  handled  by  large  dis¬ 
tributors,  it  is  well  that  growers  should  know  how  these  firms  handle 
their  shipments.  Some  of  these  outlets  are  also  open  to  associations 
and  to  experienced  growers. 

The  distributor  may  use  several  methods  in  making  his  sales ,  as 
follows : 

Through  his  store  in  the  city  to  the  retail  trade. — To  sell  through  his 
store  to  the  retail  trade  makes  it  possible  for  the  distributor  to  hold 
a  long  line  of  customers  who  buy  regularly  or  periodically,  but  who 
do  not  buy  in  sufficient  quantities  to  patronize  the  produce  yards. 

A  better  average  profit  is  secured  in  this  way  because  to  the  dis¬ 
tributor’s  car-lot  profit  is  added  that  of  the  jobber’s.  Many  times 
inferior  products  may  be  disposed  of  through  the  store  to  a  certain 
trade  to  very  good  advantage,  and  it  is  often  better  to  dispose  of 
cars  which  must  be  sorted  in  this  manner. 

In  straight  car  lots  in  the  produce  yards  or  by  “ breaking ”  cars  to  the 
jobbing  or  peddling  trade. — In  some  cities  an  extensive  business  is 
carried  on  in  selling  “ straight”  or  full  cars  and  in  “ breaking”  or 
selling  by  the  load  out  of  cars  in  the  railroad  produce  yards.  On 
the  larger  markets  it  is  not  unusual  to  see  from  50  to  100  or 
more  cars  of  potatoes  on  the  tracks  at  one  time  to  be  sold.  The 
railroad  produce  yards  of  one  eastern  city  are  located  in  the  center 
of  the  wholesale-produce  district  and  a  large  percentage  of  the  cars 
received  are  sold  there  in  straight  carloads  to  wholesalers,  jobbers, 
chain  stores,  and  peddlers.  This  is  a  quick  and  inexpensive  method 
of  selling  and  it  is  very  desirable  on  account  of  the  perishability  of 
some  commodities. 

Breaking  cars  is  a  common  method  of  selling  and  a  large  volume 
of  this  kind  of  trade  is  carried  on  in  connection  with  the  car-lot  busi¬ 
ness.  The  small  jobber  may  buy  in  this  manner  in  sufficient  quan¬ 
tities  to  supply  his  requirements.  Usually  the  distributor’s  gross 
profit  on  such  sales  is  greater  than  in  selling  straight  cars  because 
his  selling  expense  is  heavier. 

i  White,  G.  C.,  Demurrage  Information  for  Farmers.  U.  S.  Department  of  Agriculture,  Bulletin  191, 
1915. 


HANDLING,  GRADING,  AND  MARKETING  POTATOES. 


35 


Consigning  to  another  market  either  to  a  broker  or  to  a  merchant. — 
There  usually  comes  a  time  in  some  districts  when  a  distributor  will 
be  unable  to  sell  all  the  crop  for  cash  f.  o.  b.  shipping  point,  or  de¬ 
livered,  and  will  have  to  consign.  On  account  of  his  trade  connec¬ 
tions  and  the  volume  of  business  he  controls  he  probably  feels  more 
confident  that  he  will  receive  fair  treatment  from  the  commission 
merchant  than  does  the  grower.  The  commission  merchant  is  some¬ 
times  in  a  measure  dependent  upon  the  distributor  for  supplies. 
Sometimes  the  services  of  a  broker  are  utilized  by  the  wholesaler  or 
distributor  when  consigning  to  outside  markets. 

Selling  for  cash  to  a  track  buyer  at  shipping  point. — Track  selling  is 
carried  on  quite  extensively  in  all  potato-producing  districts.  The 
buyers  may  he  traveling  brokers  or  representatives  of  wholesale 
firms.  Track  selling  is  preferred  by  some  distributors  for  the  reason 
that  the  risk  in  transit  due  to  decay,  weather  conditions,  shrinkage, 
market  decline,  and  other  causes  devolves  on  the  buyer. 

Selling  by  “wire”  to  the  trade  in  other  cities  either  to  the  wholesaler  or 
jobber  direct  or  through  his  own  representative  or  broker. — Selling  by 
wire  is  a  very  successful  method  when  the  wholesaler,  shipper,  or 
distributor  has  the  proper  market  connections,  namely,  his  own 
representative,  a  broker  in  the  market,  or  a  personal  acquaintance 
with  his  customers.  The  sale  may  be  consummated  by  telegraph  on 
an  f.  o.  b.  shipping-point  basis,  in  transit,  or  delivered.  The  distribu¬ 
tor  has  accurate  knowledge  of  how  many  cars  he  has  to  sell,  the  grade 
and  quality  of  the  stock,  and  should  know  approximately  the  quan¬ 
tities  the  different  markets  are  receiving  and  the  quantity  moving 
from  producing  points.  With  this  knowledge  and  information  as  to 
the  general  market  conditions  he  can  quote  his  products  intelligently. 

There  are  several  forms  in  common  use  among  the  trade  in  quoting 
by  wire  or  letter.  The  one  most  commonly  used  is  given  below: 

Blank  City,  Minn.,  October  10, 1915. 

John  Doe,  St.  Louis ,  Mo. 

We  offer  subject  to  confirmation  shipment  to-day  number  one  Early  Ohio  potatoes 
one  fifty  bushel  sacked  fob  here. 

Jones  &  Smith. 

St.  Louis,  Mo.,  October  10, 1915. 

Jones  &  Smith,  Blank  City,  Minn. 

Ship  John  Brown  here  car  number  one  Early  Ohios  to-day  price  quoted  confirm 
with  car  number  weights  routing. 

John  Doe. 

Blank  City,  Minn.,  October  10, 1915. 

John  Doe,  St.  Louis,  Mo. 

Shipped  John  Brown  Great  Northern  nineteen  thousand  four  sixty  containing  three 
hundred  thirteen  sacks  weight  thirty-seven  five  sixty  routed  Burlington. 

Jones  &  Smith. 


36 


FARMERS  *  BULLETIN  753. 


In  the  foregoing  wires,  Jones  and  Smith  are  the  shippers  of  potatoes, 
located  in  Blank  City,  Minn.;  John  Doe  is  the  broker  located  at  St. 
Louis,  and  John  Brown  is  the  broker’s  customer. 

When  the  sale  is  consummated  a  record  is  made  of  the  order,  the 
broker’s  name,  and  all  particulars.  The  brokerage  on  potatoes  ranges 
from  |5  to  $10  per  car,  usually  each  principal  paying  for  his  own 
wires. 

RAILROAD  BILLING. 

There  are  several  ways  in  which  a  bill  of  lading  for  a  car  of  potatoes 
may  be  made. 

The  car  may  be  billed  open  to  the  consignee. — A  car  may  be  billed 
direct  to  the  consignee  without  an  endeavor  to  secure  pay  for  the 
potatoes  before  they  are  delivered  to  him.  Unless  the  shipper  has 
confidence  in  the  consignee  and  knows  that  he  will  receive  honest 
treatment  at  the  merchant’s  hands,  billing  open  is  not  recommended. 
However,  a  large  volume  of  business  is  conducted  in  this  manner 
every  year. 

Billed  to  the  broker  or  representative. — Large  selling  organizations 
and  distributors  are  billing  to  their  broker  or  representative  to  some 
extent.  It  insures  prompt  action  on  the  sale  of  the  car,  prompt 
reconsignment  of  rejected  cars,  and  gives  the  shipper  a  personal 
representative  on  the  ground  to  look  after  his  interests.  The  shipper 
should  know  of  the  ability  and  integrity  of  the  broker  or  representa¬ 
tive. 

Billed  to  the  shipper ,  u shipper’s  order”  notify  the  consignee. — 
Sometimes  shipments  are  billed  on  the  “ Shipper’s  Order”  form  of 
bill  of  lading  to  the  shipper  himself  and  a  notation  is  usually  made 
thereon  to  “  permit  inspection.”  Unless  the  buyer  or  his  agent 
purchases  and  inspects  the  commodity  at  shipping  point,  nearly  all 
perishable  products  are  sold  with  the  privilege  of  inspection  at 
destination.  The  original  bill  of  lading  is  usually  attached  to  a 
draft  and  sent  through  the  shipper’s  bank  or  direct  to  a  bank  in 
the  buyer’s  city.  When  the  car  is  accepted  and  draft  paid,  the 
buyer  receives  the  bill  of  lading  which,  when  presented  to  the  rail¬ 
road,  entitles  him  to  possession  of  the  car.  Shipping  perishables 
“order  notify”  is  not  considered  by  some  of  the  largest  distributors 
the  best  practice.  As  the  original  bill  of  lading  is  usually  in  the 
bank  attached  to  the  draft,  and  is  therefore  out  of  the  possession 
of  the  shipper,  if  the  car  should  be  rejected  it  could  not  be  recon¬ 
signed  until  the  return  of  the  bill  of  lading  from  the  bank  or  until 
the  shipper  could  furnish  a  satisfactory  bond  to  the  railroad  com¬ 
pany.  The  delay  thus  entailed  on  perishables  is  dangerous  and  may 
mean  a  serious  loss  to  the  shipper. 

Billed  to  the  shipper ,  advise  or  notify  the  consignee. — The  shipper 
by  billing  a  car  to  himself,  “advise”  the  consignee,  using  the 
“straight”  bill  of  lading,  provides  a  safeguard  for  himself  and  at 
the  same  time  also  provides  a  way  by  which  the  car  can  be  expe¬ 
ditiously  reconsigned  in  case  it  is  rejected.  When  the  billing  is 
made  out  by  the  shipper  billing  the  car,  to  himself,  advise  the  con¬ 
signee,  he  should  note  on  the  bill  of  lading  whether  or  not  inspection 
is  to  be  permitted.  Since  this  method  of  billing  has  come  into  use 


HANDLING,  GRADING,  AND  MARKETING  POTATOES. 


37 


within  recent  years,  not  only  many  shippers  but  some  railroad 
agents  are  not  familiar  with  it  and  the  latter  may  request  a  state¬ 
ment  on  the  bill  of  lading  authorizing  the  railroad  to  deliver  the  car 
upon  presentation  of  the  consignor’s  written  order  without  surrender 
of  the  bill  of  lading. 

An  order  is  made  out  by  the  shipper  to  the  delivering  railroad  com¬ 
pany  to  deliver  the  car  to  the  buyer  upon  presentation  of  this  written 
order  without  original  bill  of  lading.  This  order  should  contain  a 
description  of  the  shipment,  giving  such  information  as  the  shipping 
point,  date  shipped,  car  number  and  initials,  contents  and  the  manner 
billed,  and  should  be  made  out  on  the  shipper’s  letterhead.  This 
order  is  attached  to  the  draft  and  either  sent  through  the  shipper’s 
bank  or  direct  to  a  bank  in  the  buyer’s  town.  After  the  buyer  in¬ 
spects  the  car  and  decides  that  it  is  satisfactory,  by  paying  the  draft, 
he  secures  possession  of  the  order  or  release  notice  which,  when  pre¬ 
sented  to  the  railroad,  entitles  him  to  possession  of  the  car.  The 
delivery  notice  in  this  case  answers  the  purpose  of  a  bill  of  lading  to 
the  buyer.  If  he  chooses,  the  shipper  may  send  to  the  delivering 
agent  a  carbon  copy  of  the  delivery  notice,  also  on  his  letterhead, 
accompanied  by  a  letter.  This  prevents  misunderstandings  of  any 
kind  and  makes  it  impossible  for  the  person  notified  or  anyone  else 
to  present  to  the  agent  a  forged  order  for  the  delivery  of  the  car. 

The  advantage  in  this  manner  of  billing  is  that  the  original  bill  of 
lading  is  retained  by  the  shipper  and  in  the  event  the  consignee  rejects 
the  car  the  shipper  can  reconsign  it  without  any  loss  of  time.  Imme¬ 
diate  delivery  to  other  buyers  may  be  secured  on  rejected  or  diverted 
cars  by  telegraphing  a  release  order  to  the  delivering  railroad.  A 
number  of  large  shipping  organizations  are  using  this  method  of  billing 
very  successfully. 

Billed  to  the  shipper  himself. — Some  distributors  or  shippers  bill 
their  cars  to  themselves  and  divert  or  reconsign  from  shipping  end. 
When  shippers  are  unable  to  sell  all  cars  as  loaded,  it  is  customary  to 
bill  to  themselves  at  some  distant  city  or  gateway,  expecting  to  sell 
while  in  transit  or  on  arrival.  In  case  of  an  anticipated  rise  in  the 
market  price  this  method  is  often  followed,  as  it  may  give  the  dis¬ 
tributor  several  days  more  time  while  the  car  is  in  transit  to  take 
advantage  of  market  prices. 

In  the  event  such  a  car  is  to  be  reconsigned  or  diverted  the  shipper 
should  notify  the  railroad  agent  at  shipping  point  to  whom  the  car 
is  now  to  be  billed,  destination,  routing,  and  contents. 

In  the  case  of  a  sale  negotiated  between  the  shipper  at  point  of 
origin  and  a  purchaser  in  a  distant  city  when  the  car  is  billed  in  this 
manner,  delivery  may  be  accomplished  by  the  shipper  wiring  the 
agent  of  the  final  carrier  to  deliver  the  shipment  to  the  purchaser. 
This  wire  should  contain  all  the  facts  as  to  point  of  origin,  date 
shipped,  car  number,  and  initials,  contents,  route,  and  manner  billed. 

SHRINKAGE. 

A  great  deal  of  complaint  has  been  heard  on  the  insufficient  allow¬ 
ance  made  the  buyers  for  protection  on  actual  and  natural  shrinkage. 
On  the  other  hand,  it  is  claimed  that  in  some  instances  an  unfair  ad¬ 
vantage  has  been  taken  of  shippers  or  that  unreasonable  claims  are 
made  by  receivers. 


38 


FARMERS 9  BULLETIN  753. 


The  natural  shrinkage  on  old  potatoes  is  not  as  large  as  on  new 
potatoes.  At  the  same  time,  in  justice  to  the  buyer  and  seller  and  for 
the  protection  of  both,  there  should  be  a  clear  understanding  between 
them  on  this  subject  before  the  sale  is  consummated.  So  much  dis¬ 
satisfaction  has  arisen  and  so  much  loss  has  been  encountered  from 
this  cause  that  some  reform  or  the  adoption  of  uniform  rules  is  needed. 
The  question  is  of  great  importance  to  shippers  and  dealers  and  will 
warrant  careful  investigations  to  determine  what  rules  should  govern. 

In  the  absence  of  an  understanding  between  the  principals  the  fol¬ 
lowing  rules  have  been  observed  in  some  localities : 

On  sales  of  western  and  southwestern  potatoes  made  by  wire,  terms 
f.  o.  b.  shipping  point,  and  shipments  “billed  open’7  to  the  purchasers, 
loading  point  weights  govern. 

On  sales  madb  on  a  delivered  basis  it  is  customary  in  many  cases  to 
include  guarantee  of  invoice  weight  within  2  per  cent  for  natural 
shrinkage  on  old  potatoes  and  on  new  potatoes  5  per  cent,  excepting 
in  several  States,  such  as  Maryland,  Virginia,  and  New  Jersey,  where 
the  guarantee  is  within  4  per  cent. 

On  f.  o.  b.  shipping  point  sales,  in  cases  where  the  potatoes  have 
been  billed  shipper’s  order,  notify  the  consignee,  the  same  rule  applies 
as  if  the  terms  had  been  made  delivered  in  the  first  place,  and  the 
shipper  guarantees  the  weight  on  new  potatoes  within  5  per  cent 
natural  and  on  old  potatoes  within  2  per  cent.  In  this  case  the 
title  to  the  potatoes  does  not  pass  to  the  buyer  or  receiver  until  they 
arrive  at  the  receiving  end. 

Serious  complaints  are  made  of  the  unnecessary  shrinkage  and 
losses  on  account  of  dirt  in  shipments,  as  much  as  five  or  ten  pounds 
sometimes  being  found  in  one  sack.  It  is  realized  that  there  is 
some  reason  for  a  limited  amount  of  dirt  on  shipments  dug  and 
forwarded  during  or  following  rains,  but  it  is  certain  that  by  exer¬ 
cising  more  care  in  handling,  a  large  part  of  the  dirt  could  be  elimi¬ 
nated.  The  use  of  mechanical  sizing  or  sorting  machines  is  also  an 
aid,  since  the  potatoes  are  likely  to  dry  off  partially,  and  much  of  the 
dirt  is  rubbed  off  while  going  over  the  machines. 

WEIGHING. 

There  has  been  considerable  dissatisfaction  among  some  buyers 
and  receivers  over  the  loose  manner  now  in  vogue  of  weighing  pota¬ 
toes.  It  is  believed  that  too  little  effort  is  made  by  shippers  to  nave 
the  weights  absolutely  accurate  and  to  secure  scale  tickets. 

In  the  absence  of  a  public  weighmaster, ,  all  weights  should  be 
attested  and  the  buyer  should  receive  a  copy  of  the  scale  tickets  and 
affidavit.  This  precaution  would  enable  the  buyer,  should  there  be  a 
shortage  of  sacks,  to  fortify  his  claim  properly  against  the  railroad 
company. 

In  many  sections  of  the  North  Central  States  the  potatoes  are 
weighed  as  sorted,  in  fact,  most  sorting  machines  have  a  bag  attach¬ 
ment  at  one  end,  the  bag  being  placed  on  a  scale  and  weighed  as  the 
potatoes  come  out  of  the  machine.  To  dispel  any  doubt  as  to  the 
accuracy  of  the  scales  either  a  public  weighmaster  should  have  super¬ 
vision  of  the  weighing  or  the  scales  should  be  tested  frequently  and 
the  buyer  given  an  affidavit  as  to  the  correctness  of  the  weights. 


HANDLING,  GRADING,  AND  MARKETING  POTATOES. 


39 


The  safest  method  is  to  have  every  load  hauled  contain  the 
same  number  of  sacks  and  have  each  load  weighed  and  properly 
recorded  over  a  public  or  other  wagon  scale.  Potatoes  can  not  be  as 
accurately  weighed,  one  sack  at  a  time,  as  in  loads  over  large  scales. 

SUMMARY. 

In  the  large  commercial  fields  machine  potato  diggers  are  probably 
the  most  economical  means  of  digging  when  conditions  favor  their 
use. 

More  care  must  be  used  in  all  kinds  of  digging  and  handling,  and 
especially  in  machine  digging,  to  avoid  the  present  large  loss  and 
waste  from  cut  and  bruised  potatoes.  Much  of  this  loss  is  unneces¬ 
sary  and  can  be  avoided  by  exercising  a  reasonable  amount  of 
care. 

Picking  directly  into  crates,  which  may  be  loaded  upon  wagons  and 
hauled  to  cars  or  storage,  is  a  better  practice  than  methods  which 
require  emptying,  rehandling,  or  shoveling  several  times. 

The  results  of  shipping  machine-sized  potatoes  have  been  freely 
commended  by  buyers  and  wholesalers.  This  method  should  be 
more  accurate,  rapid,  satisfactory,  and  when  properly  managed, 
more  economical  than  hand  sizing. 

Machine  sizers,  usually  called  graders,  will  grade  potatoes  accord¬ 
ing  to  size  only;  in  addition,  the  grower  or  shipper  must  give  careful 
attention  to  the  grading  for  quality.  A  good  practical  sizer  should 
have  a  large  apron  or  table  from  which  the  operator  may  sort  the 
defective  tubers  and  should  have  a  long  belt  or  other  sizing  device 
to  give  the  potatoes  a  sufficient  distance  to  travel  in  order  to  be 
sized  properly.  A  constant  supply  of  potatoes  should  be  available 
in  order  to  obtain  the  most  economical  results  and  the  fullest  service 
of  machine  and  men. 

Enormous  waste  and  losses  are  prevalent  in  the  marketing  of 
this  crop,  largely  owing  to  the  lack  of  standards,  proper  grading,  and 
careful  handling. 

Wholesalers,  retailers,  and  consumers  are  demanding  the  use  of 
grading  and  handling  methods  which  will  guarantee  a  more  satis¬ 
factory  product,  that  can  be  sold  more  readily  and  prepared  for 
the  tal  '  without  unnecessary  loss. 

It  is  common  statement,  and  it  seems  reasonable  to  believe, 
that  tne  consumption  of  potatoes  ~culd  be  increased  materially  if 
nothing  but  well-graded  stock  were  marketed. 

Northern  potatoes  shipped  direct  com  the  field  at  harvest  time 
should  receive  more  careful  grading,  because  the  market  for 
later  shipments  is  injured  by  the  shipment  of  unsatisfactory  field 
stock. 

It  is  an  error  for  growers  knowingly  to  ship  potatoes  for  table  use 
which  have  been  frosted  or  are  affected  with  Might  or  other  d\se°ses 
^thout  sorting  ou*  11  1  rpi 


40 


FARMERS  ’  BULLETIN  753. 


In  the  North  dealers  and  warehousemen  are  now  allowed  or 
forced  to  do  most  of  the  grading.  In  this  way  growers  lessen  their 
chances  of  selling  direct  to  city  dealers  or  cash  track  buyers. 

The  establishment  of  uniform  standard  grades  for  potatoes  is 
acknowledged  to  be  of  the  utmost  importance,  as  the  greatest  need 
of  buyers  and  sellers  is  a  fixed  basis  on  which  to  deal. 

The  fact  that  standardized  products,  which  may  be  sold  by  sample 
or  description,  can  be  handled  on  a  narrower  margin  of  profit  than 
products  not  uniformly  prepared  should  be  an  incentive  to  growers 
and  shippers  to  adopt  adequate  standards  for  this  crop. 

From  present  practices  two  well-defined  commercial  grades  for 
potatoes  appear  both  necessary  and  adequate.  A  special  grade  may 
be  found  advisable  for  selected,  special-purpose  stock. 

Fruits  and  vegetables  sell  largely  on  their  appearance;  therefore  it 
is  a  mistake  to  attempt  to  market  nearly  all  of  the  crop  under  the 
first  grade  unless  the  potatoes  arc  of  strictly  first-grade  quality. 
This  grade  should  be  made  as  good  and  attractive  in  appearance  as  is 
practicable  and  reasonable.  There  is  an  outlet  for  a  No.  2  grade  of 
potatoes;  therefore  dealers  and  consumers  desiring  No.  1  potatoes 
should  not  be  forced  to  use  ungraded  or  poorly-graded  stock. 

Cooperative  marketing  organizations  have  proven  to  be  the  most 
efficient  agencies  in  securing  a  standardized  output  of  potatoes  or 
other  vegetables  or  fruits. 

Only  new,  clean,  strong,  uniform-sized  containers  should  be  used. 
The  2-bushel  burlap  bag  is  believed  to  be  a  practical  and  desirable 
container  to  replace  the  assorted  sizes  and  types  of  sacks  and  barrels 
now  used. 

Suitable  brands  are  recommended  for  the  best  graded  potatoes  if 
their  quality,  is  always  maintained. 

✓Potatoes  in  any  type  of  container  should  be  loaded  into  cars 
securely  to  prevent  loss  and  damage  and  claims  of  all  kinds. 

Growers  should  study  their  marketing  situation  to  learn  of  all 
possible  outlets  and  the  persons  and  firms  through  and  to  whom 
they  may  dispose  of  their  crops.  A  knowledge  of  the  financial  and 
moral  responsibility  of  these  ‘agencies  is  important  and  a  personal 
acquaintance  very  desirable. 

The  grower’s  careful  attention  to  the  details  of  selling  and  forward¬ 
ing  shipments,  such  as  quoting  prices  by  letter  and  wire,  making  biffi 
of  lading,  and  advising  consignee  of  details  regarding  shipments,  will 
save  many  misunderstandings  and  losses. 

Efforts  should  be  made  to  avoid  unnecessary  shrinkage  in  transit , 
and  every  precaution  should  be  taken  to  secure  accurate,  complete 
scale  weights. 


(Mronlating  oox 


I 


*7  <r  3 


48267° _ 16.  (T  arloads  indicated  by  the  figures, 


’ 

■ 


